A decade ago, only less than 500 people are suffering gastric banding or a similar procedure.
As the nation becomes fatter the demand for surgery has increased.
The number is expected to keep rising, with weight problems affecting 68 per cent of men and 55 per cent of women.
While more men were overweight, almost four in five weight loss operations were for women - 13,300 compared with just 3700.
The most common weight loss procedure is laparoscopic gastric banding, accounting for 72 per cent of all procedures in 2007-08, a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found.
It said the bulk of surgery was performed in private hospitals, but more surgeons in the public system were being trained and offering the operations.
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Obesity surgeon Ken Loi explained that the success and improved safety of surgery had contributed to the increase.
"It's available and accessible," he said.
While the bulk of surgery is performed in private hospitals, more surgeons in the public system are becoming trained and offering the procedures.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's head of hospitals and performance group Jenny Hargreaves said figures were disproportionate to the number of women overweight.
"While many overweight people rely on lifestyle factors - such as improved diet and increased physical activity - to lose weight, the report shows a significant increase in the member of people undergoing weight loss surgery," she said.
As per the National Health Survey, 68 per cent of men are overweight or obese, while for women the figure is 55 per cent."
Source:heraldsun.com.au
