- Maintenance of weight loss after 12 months is best achieved by use of behavior modification via improved food tolerances and better eating behavior than by increasing restriction of the band by further adjustments. 12 months is chosen as an arbitrary time where the majority of expected weight loss (45% of expected 50-55% 0f EWL) has been achieved. It is also a time frame by which patients have learnt to use the band appropriately, and the gastric band has had time to be adjusted into its optimal range.