The new concept of bariatric surgery in China--reevaluation of surgical indications and criteria of therapeutic effect of laparoscopy for treatment of obesity.

The etiology of morbid obesity is multifactorial and is related to inheritance, physiology, metabolism, sociocultural, behavioral, and psychological factors. In China, the incidence of obesity is increasing with the improvement of the standard of living each year. The USA is known as the nation that has a high prevalence of overweight and obese individuals, as indicated from the Nutrition and Health Status report. Obesity in China is a growing phenomenon that cannot be ignored. In this paper, we review the relatively new concept of bariatric surgery in China.