Bariatric surgery.

The surgical treatment of obesity is indicated in patients who have failed sincere attempts at medical therapies to lose weight. The BMI must exceed 40 or exceed 35 and be associated with at least two comorbid conditions. Comorbid conditions include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, and other weight related conditions that may benefit from weight loss. Patients need to be educated concerning the specific operation to be performed. They must be taught what they need to do to optimize the likelihood of success of the surgery, and they must have an understanding concerning the potential adverse side effects. When this format is followed, bariatric surgery is a legitimate treatment for morbid obesity, and the only treatment that is generally successful.