Gastrointestinal Secrets: Bariatric Surgery

Obesity is a disease with a complex etiologic interplay between epigenetics, lifestyle factors, and hormonal factors. Obesity has an impact on hundreds of associated diseases, but the most important correlation is with metabolic syndrome. Treating obesity can have a dramatic effect on Type II Diabetes Mellitus in particular. Successful treatment of obesity has a foundation of nutritional and behavioral education which is augmented with interventions that include medications, reversible endoscopic therapy, and surgery. Bariatric surgery is the currently most effective treatment of severe obesity. Gastroenterologists should be familiar with the medical and endoscopic treatments for obesity as well as weight regain after bariatric surgery. Knowledge of the altered gastrointestinal anatomy after the most common bariatric surgery procedures and their complications is fundamental for any gastroenterologist.