Journal List > J Korean Diabetes > v.14(2) > 1054900

Choi and Lee: The Current Status of Bariatric Surgery in Korea

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is considered to be the most effective treatment modality in maintaining longterm weight reduction and improving obesity-related conditions in patients that are morbidly obese. Since 2003 when the first bariatric surgery was performed in Korea, the annual number of cases has markedly increased. The adjustable gastric banding procedure is known to be less invasive and less destructive than gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, and it is unique that the proportion of this procedure is much higher in Korea than in other countries. This phenomenon arises from a misunderstanding that bariatric surgery has an unacceptably high morbidity rate and that it is not superior to nonsurgical treatment to improve obesity and related diseases. To overcome this misunderstanding, it is essential for doctors as well as patients to understand that obesity is a disease entity that requires an intensive treatment and to comprehend that bariatric surgery is a viable treatment for obesity.

REFERENCES

1. SMason EE, Ito C. Gastric bypass in obesity. Surg Clin North Am. 1967; 47:1345–51.
2. SColquitt JL, Picot J, Loveman E, Clegg AJ. Surgery for obesity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009; CD003641.v.
crossref
3. SSjostrom L, Narbro K, Sjostrom CD, Karason K, Larsson B, Wedel H, Lystig T, Sullivan M, Bouchard C, Carlsson B, Bengtsson C, Dahlgren S, Gummesson A, Jacobson P, Karlsson J, Lindroos AK, Lonroth H, Naslund I, Olbers T, Stenlof K, Torgerson J, Agren G, Carlsson LM. Effects of bariatric surgery on mortality in Swedish obese subjects. N Engl J Med. 2007; 357:741–52.
crossref
4. SBuddeberg-Fischer B, Klaghofer R, Krug L, Buddeberg C, Muller MK, Schoeb O, Weber M. Physical and psychosocial outcome in morbidly obese patients with and without bariatric surgery: a 4 1/2-year followup. Obes Surg. 2006; 16:321–30.
5. SDixon JB, O'Brien PE, Playfair J, Chapman L, Schachter LM, Skinner S, Proietto J, Bailey M, Anderson M. Adjustable gastric banding and conventional therapy for type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2008; 299:316–23.
crossref
6. SO'Brien PE, McPhail T, Chaston TB, Dixon JB. Systematic review of medium-term weight loss after bariatric operations. Obes Surg. 2006; 16:1032–40.
TOOLS
Similar articles