In the pre-surgery period, the MMP group lost two pounds more than the non-MMP group, which is not statistically significant. After one year, gastric bypass patients in the non-MMP group had lost 64 percent of their excess weight while patients in the MMP group lost about 63 percent of their excess weight. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band patients lost less weight than gastric bypass patients and the difference in excess weight loss between gastric band patients in the MMP group and the non-MMP group was not statistically insignificant (37% vs. 30%).

"We hope insurance companies revisit their policies on mandated medical weight loss programs so patients can have bariatric surgery when they are ready physically and mentally, not at an arbitrary time point like six months," added Dr. Kuwada.

People who are morbidly obese are generally 100 or more pounds overweight, have a BMI of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 or more with an obesity-related disease, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea. According to the ASMBS, more than 15 million Americans are considered morbidly obese and in 2009 an estimated 220,000 people had some form of bariatric surgery. The most common methods of bariatric surgery are laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Source: ASMBS