§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on promoting stomach stapling as a method for dealing with obesity problems in children. [172588]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 11 May 2004]: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on surgery for morbid obesity advises that surgery should only be considered when there is evidence that all appropriate and available non-surgical measures have been adequately tried but have failed to maintain weight loss. In July 2002, the NICE published guidance on surgery to aid weight reduction for people with morbid obesity. The guidance recommends that surgery is only performed on people aged 18 and over.