Gastric banding surgeries are on the rise, despite the shaky economy.  Research shows that doctors performed 350,000 bariatric procedures in 2009, and a 20 percent increase is expected in 2010. Read the full story

Biggest Loser contestant Ryan Benson, winner of the hit NBC reality show’s first season, has regained nearly all of the 122 pounds he lost on the show.  He shares the extreme measures that helped him capture the $250,000 prize. Read the full story

Watch this week’s WLS News to see how NBC’s very first “Biggest Loser” is doing, and why he wasn’t featured in the Biggest Loser reunion show. And how much can the wrong snacks in between meals affect you? Will these bite size portions lead to obesity? This report tells the whole story. Plus, you’ll hear about famed Chef Jamie Oliver and get some good news about projects designed to combat childhood obesity. Read the full story

Watch this week’s WLS News to find out why too much exercise, too soon could pose certain risks to weight loss surgery patients. And, learn how drinking coffee and tea may help prevent a life threatening medical condition. Plus, we’ll tell you how psychotherapy can benefit overweight teens, fill you in on two new weight loss pills expected to get FDA approval, and share the top ten trends in weight loss surgery for the New Year. Read the full story

John Daly, previously known as the bad boy of pro golf, shed more than 100 pounds this year after gastric banding surgery.  Daly calls the surgery “the greatest technology that anyone can have” and hopes the government will make it more available for obese kids.

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Weight loss surgery was the next step in the crossroads for Carla Burkhalter, who weighed 289 pounds and knew something had to change. The change has been rewarding. Read the full story

Weight loss surgery meant Joanne Brown could get rid of 120 pounds, her C-Pap breathing apparatus and her health worries. But what she gained was even better: confidence. Read the full story

Lap-Band support hinges on effective, ongoing communication to promote patient compliance. Bariatric surgeon Dr. Sunil Bhoyrul explains how the Lap-Band can be leveraged to provide continued opportunities for guidance and counsel in this interview from the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Read the full story