Obesity is emerging as a health epidemic around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is rapidly spreading across all regions and demographic groups. An estimated 97 million adults in the United States are overweight or obese. That figure represents more than 50% of the American adult population. Of this group, 11 million adults suffer from severe obesity.

Click here for Morbid Obesity »

The word Lap-Band is the abbreviated combination of two words (LAP from laparoscopic and BAND from gastric band). The band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, thus dividing the stomach into two parts. The small upper stomach pouch can only hold a small amount of food.

Click here for LAP-BANDŽ System »

Approved by the FDA in June 2001, the Lap-Band Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the newest and the only adjustable surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. Since its clinical introduction in 1993, more than 150,000 Lap-Band procedures have been performed around the world.

Click here for LAP-BANDŽ Procedure »

Surgical treatment of obesity is not an appropriate treatment for everyone. There are several criteria that candidates must meet.

Click here for Qualifying »

Insurance coverage is a big concern of most patients. A growing number of states have passed laws that require insurance companies to provide benefits for weight loss surgery for patients that meet the National Institute of Health surgical criteria. Most insurance companies require a lengthy approval process. Your best chance for obtaining approval for insurance coverage comes from working as a team with your bariatric surgeon and other experts in which you are referred. Here is some basic information about how insurance companies function.

Click here for Insurance Coverage »

Support group meetings are open to all current and prospective patients of Jacksonville Weight Loss Center.  Meetings are held the first and third Thursday of each month.  Meetings start at 7 p.m. and are held at our office at 3236 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida.  Meetings are led by our Weight Loss Specialist, Jody DeBord and our Program Coordinator and Lap-Band patient, Karma Hastings.

Click here for Support Groups »

Click here for BMI »