"The die is cast, so to speak, for developing diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension."

Researchers retrospectively analyzed rates of teenage obesity among nearly 1,500 morbidly obese adults seeking bariatric surgery, looking for relationships between teenage body weight and health conditions during adulthood.

A patient's body weight at age 18 was a key predictor of diseases in adulthood, including renal disease, walking limitations and diabetes, TheHeart.org reported.

Obese teenagers who undergo bariatric weight-loss surgery may see the benefits well into adulthood and waiting until after age 18 may put patients "past the point of no return," researchers say.

 Obese teenagers who undergo bariatric weight-loss surgery may have a better chance later in life of staving off diabetes, hypertension, asthma and other health issues than if they remain obese into adulthood, according to a new study.

"When we looked at children in the Princeton School District cohort," researcher Dr. Thomas Inge dissected the data for those with a BMI over 40, looking at them over 5 years, they continued to gain weight, and they gained at a rate of 1 BMI point a year thereafter."
"The critical point is that, after 18, you may be past the point of no return," Inge added. "The die is cast, so to speak, for developing diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension."

Investors Rushing as Obesity Treatment Devices Have Big Potential in Medical Marketplace

Approximately one-third of U.S. adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And while this weighty statistic does not bode well for the health of Americans, it does represent a wealth of opportunity for medical device manufacturers.

Among the few weight-loss devices that can boast brand recognition, thanks to a ubiquitous advertising campaign, is the Lap-Band adjustable gastric banding system. However, this pervasive marketing campaign was the subject of a stern warning from FDA  last month that accused several surgical centers and a marketing firm of downplaying the device's dangers, contraindications, and side effects.
Although the laparoscopically placed Lap-Band has proven successful in the market—despite the recent marketing brouhaha—various medical device manufacturers are forging a different product design path for next-generation devices by offering a nonsurgical, nondrug obesity treatment.  
ReShape Medical (San Clemente, CA), for example, has developed what it claims on its Web site is the "first and only nonsurgical, dual-balloon treatment for the millions who want a fast track to weight loss, without the risks of surgery or side effects of drugs." Designed to take place in a 30-minute outpatient procedure, placement of the ReShape Duo entails the insertion of an endoscope through the mouth and into the stomach. Then, the uninflated balloons are positioned in the stomach via a guidewire, after which the balloons are inflated with saline.

Orange County, Ca is becoming a hub for medical devices in Obesity, Ophthalmology, Cardiovascular and other therapeutic areas.

Onciomed, Inc based in Irvine, CA is working on a minimally invasive laproscopic procedure, which is reversible and  can reduce the dependance of anti diabetic medicaltion the procedure takes about 45 min. The company is working on its Series A funding. The company claims it has reached mile stones that other competitors have reached at Series B funding. This could be a great advantage for investors. The product has great potential said on of the ASMBS international faculty surgeons. Product is under clinical evaluation outside USA.
Soon there will be many "Obesity Clinics" around . Just like opthalmologist, are now called "Lasik Surgeons"
bariatric surgeons will be called  "Obesity Surgeons"