PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Keng Ngee Hng
AU  - Yeng S Ang
TI  - Overview of bariatric surgery for the physician
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.12-5-435
DP  - 2012 Oct 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 435--440
VI  - 12
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/12/5/435.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/12/5/435.full
SO  - Clin Med2012 Oct 01; 12
AB  - The worldwide pandemic of obesity carries alarming health and socioeconomic implications. Bariatric surgery is currently the only effective treatment for severe obesity. It is safe, with mortality comparable to that of cholecystectomy, and effective in producing substantial and sustainable weight loss, along with high rates of resolution of associated comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes. For this reason, indications for bariatric surgery are being widened. In addition to volume restriction and malabsorption, bariatric surgery brings about neurohormonal changes that affect satiety and glucose homeostasis. Increased understanding of these mechanisms will help realise therapeutic benefits by pharmacological means. Bariatric surgery improves long-term mortality but can cause long-term nutritional deficiencies. The safety of pregnancy after bariatric surgery is still being elucidated.