Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (EES) recently announced an 18-month data analysis demonstrating that REALIZE® Adjustable Gastric Band (shown) patients who consistently utilized the company’s REALIZE mySUCCESS® Program lost significantly more weight compared to those who inconsistently used the program. David B. Sarwer, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, presented the data at an educational event taking place in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

The REALIZE mySUCCESS® program is a Web-based clinical support tool to help bariatric surgery patients achieve and maintain a healthier weight. According to the 18-month data, gastric banding patients who frequently used REALIZE mySUCCESS® achieved an average of 15 percent more excess weight loss (EWL).  These results are based on 18 months of patient-reported data from REALIZE® Band patients frequently using REALIZE mySUCCESS® versus those infrequently using it. Frequent use means entering a weight at least once every 2 weeks.(i)

EES offers the Web-based clinical support tool for patients across the continuum of bariatric surgical procedures. The company expanded patient access to REALIZE mySUCCESS® to gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients in August 2009. Since then, 5,000 bypass and sleeve surgery patients have registered, bringing the overall total to 27,000 bariatric surgery patients participating in the program.(ii)

The REALIZE mySUCCESS® program allows patients to develop pre- and post-operative goals interactively, customize plans and monitor their weight loss progress. It then applies system intelligence to update physicians on patient-reported data, enabling physicians to proactively monitor patient progress and intervene before minor setbacks in behavior occur.

More information can be found at www.ethiconendo.com