Gastric Banding Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Gastric Banding, including details on laparoscopic gastric banding, stomach stapling, gastric bypass, risks, diet.

Bariatric surgery and bariatric psychology: evolution of the dutch approach.

van Hout GC, Vreeswijk CM, van Heck GL

Department of Medical Psychology, Catharina Hospital, P.O. box 1350, 5602 ZA, Eindhoven, The Netherlands, gerbrand.v.hout@cze.nl.

BACKGROUND: Success of bariatric surgery is largely dependent on patients' abilities to change their lifestyle and underlying psychosocial and behavioral factors; these factors should be carefully scrutinized. However, no consensus or guidelines exist for these evaluations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To get a better understanding of the practice of bariatric surgery and bariatric psychology in The Netherlands and its evolution, a survey of bariatric surgery programs was conducted. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2005, performance of bariatric surgery in The Netherlands has increased from 564 to more than 2,000 annually, mostly adjustable gastric banding. Most hospitals have a multidisciplinary selection process, and in 89% of the cases, a mental health specialist was involved. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery in The Netherlands has increased tremendously; however, it is mostly limited to restrictive procedures, and there is no consensus regarding the psychological evaluation of patients.

Published 28 February 2008 in Obes Surg, 18(3): 321-5.
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