Current State of Bariatric Surgery: Procedures, Data, and Patient Management

Bariatric surgery comprises a group of operative procedures designed to improve weight-related medical conditions. In the United States, these include vertical sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, and the duodenal switch procedure. Bariatric surgery is the only durable and effective way for most humans to lose a significant amount of weight, and see improvement in obesity-related comorbidities. It can improve quality of life, prevent a number of cancers, and decrease overall mortality. Bariatric procedures work through several avenues, including restriction of food intake, malabsorption of food calories, an increase in metabolic rate, decreased hunger, increased satiety, and a variety of other hormonal mechanisms. Several other surgical, endoscopic, and non-permanent approaches to weight loss will also be covered in this section.