Do You Qualify for Lap-Band?

  As expected, Lap-Band surgery is now available to patients who are less obese.  The Food and Drug Administration has just approved the stomach-restricting device to those on the low end of the obesity scale.
  Is this a weight loss option you'd consider?

From The New York Times:
The F.D.A. lowered the weight requirement only for people who have a health problem related to obesity, like hypertension or diabetes, not for people who are heavy but otherwise healthy.
“In order to target this therapy to patients who will benefit the most, the approved indication is limited to patients at the highest risk of obesity-related complications,” said Karen Riley, a spokeswoman for the agency.
Allergan said it was pleased nonetheless.
Until now the Lap-Band has been approved for people with a body mass index, or B.M.I., of at least 40 if they have no obesity-related health problems and at least 35 if they have such a problem.
Allergan applied to lower the threshold to 35 for people without complications and to 30 for those with a related health condition.
The F.D.A. agreed to lower the requirement for those with an associated health condition to 30. But it left the requirement for otherwise healthy people at 40. An index of 30 is considered the lower boundary of obesity.
Under the previous rules, a person who is five-foot-six and has diabetes would have had to weigh 216 pounds to qualify. Now that person would have to weigh only 186 pounds.