Avon Obesity Service specialises in the areas of:

• Diet therapy
• Drug therapy
• Surgical treatment in the form of gastric banding

Our range of services guarantees you the very best advice and support before, during and after your treatment.

Depending on an individual's risk factors, BMI and personal preferences, your doctor should suggest a combination of treatments including behaviour modification, exercise, dieting and, in some cases, drug therapy. Generally, people with the highest risk should receive the most aggressive treatment. Surgery is only considered for treating severe obesity that has not responded to other treatments. The various treatments available are described in further detail within the appropriate page (as shown above, or to the left).

Before any treatment begins, however, it is important for you and your doctor to set proper 'goals' for your weight loss. The first goal should be to prevent further weight gain and maintain your current weight (within 5%). Then you must agree a realistic weight loss target - unfortunately most people have a 'dream' weight that is well below a realistic level.

A person at high risk of developing diabetes mellitus who loses just 5% of their initial weight (and maintains this loss) will reduce their risk of developing diabetes by about half (50%). Losing more than 15% of their initial weight (and maintaining this loss) is a fantastic achievement even if the person never reaches his of her 'dream' weight.