Local mother, daughter committed to trying an alternative weight loss surgery together

TAMPA - More than a third of adults in America are obese, according to the Centers For Disease Control.

While lap band and gastric bypass weight loss surgeries are still popular, there's another option that's being used more and more often.  It's called the gastric sleeve.

Ruth Prince and her daughter, Marquita, are preparing for the surgery.

The gastric sleeve procedure is done laparoscopically. 80 percent of the stomach is removed. The edges are attached together to form a sleeve or tube with a banana shape.

Dr. Lee Grossbard with Florida Surgical Weight Loss Centers says the procedure is safe, but with certain risks. "The risk is similar but lower than gastric bypass." says Dr. Grossbard.

Dr. Grossbard says the gastric sleeve is growing in popularity, now that medicare and insurance will cover the procedure.

So how much weight can the mother and daughter expect to lose? Dr. Grossbard says they strive to get at least 60 percent at five years.

While mom and daughter want to lose that kind of weight, their motivations are different.

Ruth Price says it's about getting off expensive monthly medications. Her daughter says she wants to avoid any weight-related illnesses down the road.