Consensus Conference Statement. Bariatric surgery for morbid obesity: Health implications for patients, health professionals, and third-party payers

Bariatric surgery, involving either open or laparoscopic techniques, is the most effective weight loss therapy available for patients with morbid obesity. Bariatric surgery results in marked and long-lasting weight loss and elimination or improvement of most obesity-related medical complications, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, cardiac dysfunction, osteoarthritis and low back pain, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, intertriginous dermatitis, stress incontinence, symptoms of depression, and eating disorders; bariatric operations can also prevent obesity-related diseases (eg, type 2 diabetes). There is no single or standard surgical procedure for management of morbid obesity, and future studies will likely lead to modifications in current procedures and new surgical approaches.