Allergan, the folks who have given us Botox to smooth wrinkles and freeze smiles, has asked the FDA to drastically lower the qualification weight for lapband surgery. Under the requested reduction to a BMI of 30, a 5'6" woman would now qualify for the surgery at just 190 pounds [see news report].
If the FDA approves Allergan's request, almost 20 million people will newly become eligible for lapband surgery. At an average cost of almost US$20,000, that's a potential payoff of 400 billion dollars.
Ka-ching. The war on obesity, that dreadful epidemic facing our nation, is sure lucrative. Oh, and the chairwoman of the FDA advisory committee making the determination owns stock in Allergan.
If the FDA approves Allergan's request, almost 20 million people will newly become eligible for lapband surgery. At an average cost of almost US$20,000, that's a potential payoff of 400 billion dollars.
Ka-ching. The war on obesity, that dreadful epidemic facing our nation, is sure lucrative. Oh, and the chairwoman of the FDA advisory committee making the determination owns stock in Allergan.
