Bariatric surgery, such as Lap Band surgery in Jacksonville, Florida, is a cost-effective solution for people who are mildly or severely obese, according to a recent study by the Washington University School of Medicine. Because people who undergo JSAPA Weight Loss Surgery are more apt to keep extra weight off in the long term, they are prone to less health problems, which is an overall good economic value. Further, weight loss surgery ultimately saves the severely obese patients money in health care costs due to reduced medical expenditures for disease like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The researchers examined data of weight loss surgery patients and their quality of life and life expectancies against those who didn’t have bariatric surgery. The study examined a cost-effective surgery metric called the quality-adjusted life year, or QALY. QALY is a standard medical treatment value measure that looks at one’s length and quality of life. In order for a medical treatment to be considered cost effective in the United States, the limit is $50,000. This means that any treatment less than $50,000 is deemed to be cost-effective.

The study findings showed that for the moderately obese who have a BMI between 35 and 40, the QALY was $3,900 and under (clearly below the $50,000 benchmark), and those with a BMI of 40 to 50, the QALY was at or below $3,800. The QALY was negative, which means the cost of weight loss surgery was less than the healthcare costs without having the surgery, for those with a BMI of 50 or higher.

The study is important because it identifies the cost-effectiveness of weight loss surgery across BMI categories, while also offering additional support for the FDA approved Lap Band surgery.