Teens Gastric Bands – Cost Diet FDA

By: Bill Waters
07/27/2010 06:34 AM ET

Teens Gastric Bands cost and diet FDA ads. The Gastric Bands cost and diet surgery are seen in several advertisements targeting teens. There are several types of Gastric Bands, but they lead teens into thinking that it’s the proper diet and cost effective solution.

The NYU Langone Weight Management Program intends to put out a new list of approved bariatric clinics that treat teens later this year. If the weight management program receives approval from the FDA, insurers would be more likely to pay for the procedure. It would cost the insured patient $2,000 to $4,000.

The uninsured, making up about a third of patients who have the surgery in the United States, pay about $15,000. Some health professionals fear that the manufacturers of the band will target teens with direct-to-consumer (DTC) ads on television and radio. These ads are proven effective at luring people into surgery. “There is no guidance or regulation on DTC ads to young users,” the FDA said in a statement.

Allergan is a global specialty pharmaceutical company. Their product ranges include ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, dermatology products, and neurological products. For the Irvine, California company, the implications are significant. They recently launched a campaign with bariatric surgeons to invite their patients to enter an essay contest and win a chance to go to Washington, D.C. to “share their personal stories with legislators and media.”