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Bariatric Surgery Publications

LABS Safety Study - New England Journal of Medicine

Study

"Perioperative Safety in the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery" by the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) Consortium, published in the July 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, involves Anita Courcoulas, MD, director, UPMC Minimally Invasive Bariatric and General Surgery.

Findings

The safety and effectiveness of bariatric surgery, for morbid obesity and expensive obesity-related conditions, is emerging as an even more powerful force in this new era of health care reform.

The findings of this research:

Strongly reaffirm the safety of bariatric surgery
Should help to inspire greater confidence from the general public and policymakers, thus making it more difficult to deny or delay coverage of these life-saving and life-extending procedures

Other LABS Publications Regarding Bariatric Surgery

Filling the Gaps in Bariatric Surgical Research from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Research (LABS) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS): Methodologic Features of the First Prospective Multicenter Study of Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

UPMC's Bariatric Services is committed to your successful weight loss and management.

As part of this commitment, we offer various bariatric support groups at our locations throughout central and western Pennsylvania, and in New York.

Weight loss support groups can provide help for those going through a challenging time. We encourage all our patients to take advantage of this service.

UPMC Altoona

Virtual Support Group via Teams - First Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.
For more information about our weight loss support groups, call 814-889-7500.

UPMC Chautauqua

207 Foote Ave.
Classroom 2 - 4
Jamestown, NY 14701

Second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.
Reservations are not required.
For more information about our weight loss support groups, call 716-485-7870.

UPMC Hamot Area

Third Wednesday each month from 6 – 8 p.m.
All meetings are virtual. Link can be found on our private Facebook group, Your Bariatric Life with UPMC Hamot bariatrics, under the FEATURED tab. Call the office at 814-877-6997 for more information.

UPMC Jameson Area

UPMC Jameson Minimally Invasive Bariatric Center
25 Nesbitt Road, Suite 151
New Castle, PA 16105

For more information about our Bariatric Support Groups, call 724-656-0067.

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

Virtual Support Group – Third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.
Open to all patients, who are preparing for or have had bariatric surgery. Family members and friends are encouraged to attend.
For more information, call 412-641-2178.

UPMC Central PA Weight Management

Second Tuesday of every month from 5 – 6 p.m. in-person, as well as via our Facebook Live group.
Office locations rotate every month.
For more information, call 717-909-0290.