San Diego, CA - June 16, 2004 - Patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery reduced their prescription drug costs by 68 percent after only six months, according to a new study presented today at the 21 st annual scientific meeting of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).

Researchers from Mobile (AL) Infirmary Medical Center and the University of South Alabama Medical Center reviewed prescription drug costs of 78 patients between the ages of 55 and 75 and found that prior to surgery, patients were spending on average about $370 per month on prescription drugs for a variety of illnesses associated with their morbid obesity including type II diabetes and osteoarthritis. Six months after gastric bypass surgery, prescription drug costs were $119 per month per patient or down by 68 percent and reduced further to $104 after two years (down 72%). The researchers projected the total annual coast savings for these patients to be approximately $240,000 annually.

"Gastric bypass surgery significantly reduces or eliminates many of the illnesses associated with morbid obesity and as a result, people do not need all those medications they took before surgery resulting in significant healthcare cost savings," said L. Lamar Snow, MD, clinical professor of surgery at the University of South Alabama and lead author of the study.

Morbid obesity is directly associated with numerous diseases including type II diabetes, hearth disease, sleep apnea, asthma and cancer, as well as numerous other conditions including joint problems, infertility, incontinence, and gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

In the study, researchers reviewed all patient prescription drugs and dosages per- and post-surgery at six month, one year and two years. Each patient's drug history was obtained from the patients and verified by their referring physicians. The cost of a 30-day supply of each drug was obtained from two retail sources and averaged. Preoperatively, patients in the study were taking an average of four drugs each for their obesity-related illnesses. At six months, they were taking an average of 1.5 prescription drugs each which remained about the same at the two-year follow up.

Obesity has risen steadily over the past 20 years and is no the second leading cause of preventable death, accounting for 400,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the U.S. , and estimated 60 million people are obese and 10-15 million people are morbidly obese. The direct and indirect costs to the healthcare system associated with obesity are estimated to be $117 billion annually.

Gastric bypass surgery, the most common form of weight loss surgery, involves reducing the size of the stomach to limit the amount of food intake and bypassing a portion of the small intestine. Another form of weight loss surgery, adjustable gastric banding involves placing an inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch and narrow opening to the rest of the stomach. An estimated 144,000 people in the United States are expected to have the procedure this year. It is the only proven method for achieving sustained weight loss for the morbidly obese.

The ASBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the world. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of morbid obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in bariatric surgery, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved surgical outcomes for morbidly obese patients. For more information about the ASBS visit www.asbs.org .