Bariatric Surgery at UCLA Health

Why weight loss surgery?

Significant effort has been invested in the treatment of overweight and obesity, however many programs to help individuals lose weight and maintain a stable body weight have produced only modest results. Studies show that weight loss precipitated by lifestyle alterations, such as increased physical activity and adoption of a healthy diet, is difficult to sustain. Furthermore, weight loss from medications is limited and requires long term use.

Bariatric surgery has emerged as a more successful strategy and is now considered the standard of care for the treatment of people with obesity, severe obesity or obesity with co-occurring disorders (such as diabetes or heart disease).

Studies show that more than 90 percent of bariatric patients lose 50 percent or more of their excessive body weight and are able to maintain a long-term weight loss of 50 percent excess body weight or more. Of even greater significance, many bariatric surgery patients experience improvements in co-occurring disorders, such as the resolution of sleep apnea or improvements in hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. Some types of bariatric surgery also lead to improvements or the remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus which, prior to bariatric surgery, was thought to be a progressive and incurable disease requiring lifelong medication and lifestyle modification. Studies have demonstrated an improvement of diabetes in more than 85 percent of diabetic patients and remission of the disease in 78 percent follow bariatric surgery.

Award-winning bariatric surgery at UCLA

From advanced technology, including da Vinci Robotic surgical systems, to extensive patient support and education, we offer one of the most comprehensive, effective weight loss programs in the U.S. This has led to a number of prestigious honors and national recognitions including:

• Level One Center of Excellence designation by the American College of Surgeons' Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program
• National Magnet designation for outstanding nursing care

Learn more about bariatric surgery at UCLA