National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines state that patients with a body mass index of around 40 qualify for gastric banding or bypass operations on the NHS.
But some areas are having to restrict operations to those with BMIs over 60.
"There are about 1.2 m people who fit the NICE criteria for obesity surgery in the UK, and there is no way that the NHS can cope with that with just 20 to 30 surgeons to carry out the work", Dr Roger Ackroyd of Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire told the BBC.
Dr Ackroyd carried out over 400 gastric banding or bypass operations over the last year but claims he's "just scratching the surface".
So what's the answer doc? "Get people to eat better and exercise more, but the chances of this are unlikely", he says.
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BBC News, Mon 24 Jul 2006 at 11:17am
