According to the website private health care UK, a top private hospital group are requesting that private medical insurers should offer gastric banding and gastric bypass operations, as a safe efficient treatment for the morbidly obese. The group Spire healthcare coincidently encourages weight-loss surgery options in all its hospitals.

Dr Jean-Jacques de Gorter: Clinical services director said “There are a growing number of patients being treated with weight-loss surgery and currently they are either self-funded or paid for by the NHS. We believe that the private healthcare industry is missing an opportunity to differentiate itself by extending PMI cover to include funding or weigh loss surgery.

He also added “This would have the double benefit of both extending the value of PMI to insured patients and helping manage the risk of excessive healthcare costs arising from the consequences of obesity.” Research has illustrated that this type of research in addition to having physical and mental health benefits, can also rid the patient of type 2 diabetes, as well as cause a reduction in conditions such as stroke and cancer.