Surgical Treatment of Obesity — Weighing the Facts

There has been an explosion in the number of bariatric surgical procedures performed worldwide. It is estimated that in 2005, the number of procedures performed in the United States was more than 10 times as great as the number performed in 1994, an increase from approximately 16,200 procedures to 171,000, and the number is still rising. This roaring growth has caused many observers to ask vital questions: Is bariatric surgery safe? Is it effective? Is it affordable?In the past, now outdated bariatric procedures carried unacceptably high risks. The weight loss associated with the procedures was questionable, and the long-term . . .