Management of Obesity: The Surgical Perspective

Background: Obesity which is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide continues to increase with its associated complications. Bariatric surgeries have been described as the preferred method of treatment for morbid obesity. The objective of this review is to give an overview of bariatric surgical procedures and the possible outcomes. Method: Literature review was conducted using Goggle Search Engine and Highwire Press. Selected papers were taken and books from the author's collection were used for further reference. Results: Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity producing long lasting weight loss and remission of co-morbidities. Restrictive procedures are more commonly performed because they are simpler and achieve good weight loss in addition to the avoidance of metabolic complications associated with malabsorptive procedures. Conclusion: Specific criteria must be met and the patient must be motivated and fully informed before performance of bariatric surgery for obesity preferably with restrictive procedures. Key Words: Obesity; bariatric surgery; restrictive; malabsorptive