title: Obesity, weight loss and bariatric surgery.
abstract: Obesity is shaping up to be the major health care problem and one of the most frequent causes of preventable death in Western countries in the 21st century. Bariatric surgery is the only current treatment that has been shown to achieve major and durable weight loss. Major weight loss in the severely obese leads to total or partial control of a wide range of common and serious diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is the most common type of obesity surgery performed in Australia. It is effective, relatively safe and minimally invasive. The blocks to broader application of bariatric surgery should be identified and resolved.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Obesity Research and Education, Monash Medical School, Monash University, The Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. paul.obrien@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Wendy A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049088:Bariatrics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015904:Biliopancreatic Diversion / Q000379:methods; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants