Obesity Intervention
Allergan is committed to enabling patients to reach a natural healthy weight and to live an active lifestyle. Over the last 50 years, obesity has been increasing at an alarming rate and is now recognized by leading government health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), as a disease. In the United States alone, obesity affects more than 60 million individuals1 and is considered the second leading cause of preventable death.2 Worldwide, approximately 1.6 billion adults are overweight, and it is estimated that obesity affects at least 400 million adults.3
Obesity is caused by a wide range of factors including genetics, metabolic disorders, physical and psychological issues, lifestyle, and poor nutrition. Millions of obese and overweight individuals first turn to diet, fitness and medication to lose weight; however, these efforts alone are often not enough to keep weight at a level that is optimal for good health. Surgery is another increasingly viable alternative for those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 30 with at least one obesity-related health condition.
Allergan has joined the effort to fight the growing obesity epidemic with a portfolio of innovative medical devices to help achieve and support sustained weight loss, reduce health risks associated with obesity and help patients realize their goals for healthy living and wellness. The LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the first adjustable medical device for individualized weight loss and the first minimally invasive surgical approach approved in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Approved outside of the United States, Allergan's portfolio also includes the ORBERA™ Intragastric Balloon System, which is a non-surgical alternative for the treatment of obesity.
Given the serious immediate and long-term consequences of the global obesity epidemic, we are committed to programs to prevent obesity. In that quest, we are actively pursuing the development of next-generation products and technologies capable of providing high-quality, healthier, and less traumatic long-term weight-loss treatment solutions.