Health: Operations for obesity soar by 530pc in five years

Some 5,407 procedures took place in 2011-12 to help obese patients lose weight, compared with just 858 in 2006-07 – a 530 per cent increase.

Figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre show a further 1,316 gastric band operations were completed in the year to March – nearly double the 715 procedures over the same period five years earlier.

There were also 1,618 gastric band maintenance operations and 124 procedures to remove the weight-loss mechanism in 2011-12.

The British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society said gastric bypass operations had proven to be the most effective surgery to ensure long-term weight loss.

The society has called on the Department of Health to guarantee patients have equal access to the treatment amid major regional variations in numbers of operations being carried out and growing evidence that health chiefs in some areas are rationing the operations to the most serious cases save money.

BOMSS president Alberic Fiennes said: “There is compelling evidence that weight-loss surgery to treat the most severely affected is one of the most clinically effective, safe and cost effective treatments available.

“There are about 1.5 million such adults in the UK.

“They face premature death, disease and disability brought on as a direct result of their condition.

“These can be prevented, improved or eliminated by surgery. While the increase in bariatric surgery is welcomed by the BOMSS and the Royal College of Surgeons, we remain concerned that there is unequal access to treatment across the UK.

“We therefore call on the Department of Health to invest in a long term strategy to ensure that all patients have equal access to this life-saving treatment.”

Mr Fiennes added: “Evidence suggests that gastric bypass operations may be more effective in the long-term.

“It also has also been shown to bring about a direct and immediate improvement in patients with type 2 diabetes, in addition to the benefits of weight loss.”

Mend, an organisation that provides healthy lifestyle programmes for children and adults, said the figures were “extremely concerning”.

Spokesman Paul Sacher said: “These rising figures show it is more crucial than ever before that we invest money in treating obesity in its early stages – so that we can reverse this trend and reduce the growing rate of severe obesity in England.

“It’s important that families get the help and support they need early on before their obesity reaches the severe stage and they’re left with no option but to have a gastric bypass operation.”

Ministers have announced a “national ambition” to bring down obesity levels by 2020.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has ruled out regulating the food industry and urged people to take responsibility for their own health. But Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is prepared to consider a “fat tax”.

Health Minister Simon Burns said: “We want people to live healthier lives so they do not need to resort to surgery, but as a last resort, doctors can advise procedures like these are undertaken.

“We are working with charities, local government and industry to make it easier for people to make better choices to prevent obesity in the first place. This year a third of meals and takeaways served from popular high street chains will contain calorie information and over a million families are involved in our Change4Life campaign – helping people to eat well and move more.”