Every year, at least 2.8 million adults die worldwide as a result of being overweight or obese. It is the fifth leading risk for death globally.
Obesity rates have nearly doubled since 1980, and continue to rise year on year. Being overweight contributes to many cases of diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and cancer.
Bariatric surgery, otherwise known as surgery to treat obesity, is the most effective long-term solution for health issues related to being overweight or obese.
Bariatric surgery has three main types:
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Adjustable gastric band
All three operations are performed by keyhole surgery, under general anaesthetic and usually take between one and three hours.
Common conditions and trial topics
Bariatric research focuses on finding the most effective surgical options to overcome obesity. We observe how bariatric surgery affects many factors including:
- weight loss
- waist circumference
- blood pressure
- blood sugar levels
We are involved in several multi-centre, national studies, including the By-Band-Sleeve trial. This will compare the three most popular bariatric operations over a three year period to determine which is the most effective for long-term weight loss, improving health problems and quality of life.
Contact information
Team leads: Helen Horton and Mr Rishi Singhal.
Last reviewed: 27 April 2021