Stomach bypass best for extreme obesity (Reuters)
Reuters - Although technically more challenging, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a common type of stomach bypass operation, provides greater weight loss in severely obese patients than does placing a plastic band around the stomach to make it smaller, new research shows.

Hospital may have exposed some to HIV (Reuters)
Reuters - A California hospital was contacting some 300 morbidly obese patients after learning they may have been exposed to hepatitis or HIV by poorly cleaned instruments used in stomach-reduction operations.

Meridia Helps Obese Teenagers Lose Weight
Meridia (sibutramine), combined with behavioural therapy, has been shown to be effective in helping obese teenagers lose weight, according to a study carried out by Dr. R Berkowitz and team at Children Hospital of Philadelphia. The researchers found the treatment is effective for obese 12-year-olds as well. The study involved 498 12-16 year old children at 33 weight-loss clinics - all of the children were obese. [click link for full article]

Poorer Older Teenagers Fatter Than Well Off Teenagers, USA
According to a new study carried out at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, the prevalence of overweight among older teenagers living below the poverty line was about 50% higher than all other older teenagers. This was not the case with teens aged 14 or under. [click link for full article]

Stomach surgery may have a role in moderate obesity (Reuters)
Reuters - For adults who are mildly to moderately obese, gastric banding -- a popular, minimally invasive type of weight loss surgery -- appears to be more effective in reducing weight and improving health and quality of life than behavioral modification plus drug therapy, Australian investigators report.