title: Gastrointestinal issues in the assessment and management of the obese patient.
abstract: As the obesity epidemic spreads across the world, physicians of all specialties will be called on to participate in the management of this condition. Gastroenterologists are no exception and can expect, in the future, to play a major role in all aspects of the care of the obese patient. Thus, gastroenterologists must learn to recognize, prevent, and treat gastrointestinal disorders related to obesity, and they must have an understanding of the risks and benefits of various management strategies. Gastroenterologists may also be called upon to assist in the evaluation and management of liver and gastrointestinal problems that have developed following bariatric surgery. When treating these problems, a thorough understanding of the anatomic and physiologic perturbations associated with a given procedure is essential, as is the knowledge of which complications are linked to weight loss and which are linked to a specific surgical approach.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Quigley is Professor of Medicine and Human Physiology at National University of Ireland in Cork, Ireland, where Dr. Hussain is a gastroenterology fellow. Dr. Quigley is also affiliated with the Department of Medicine at Cork University Hospital in Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Zulfiqar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Eamonn M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Quigley