RESUMO
Obesity and particularly morbid obesity is a lifelong problem that currently cannot be cured but can be controlled. Attempted control of obesity non-surgically results in 98% recividism. Weight loss is readily attainable, but weight loss maintenance is recalcitrant. Surgery currently provides the only long-term control of obesity. Surgery at best is a tool that the patient can use to effect the weight loss and weight loss maintenance. We have celebrated the golden anniversary of bariatric surgery in 2004. Obesity surgery is thus a relatively young field which is evolving. Operations currently used for the treatment of obesity fall into 3 categories: 1) restrictive operations such as vertical banded gastroplasty, silastic ring gastroplasty and gastric banding; 2) malabsorptive operations which include all the variations of the intestinal bypass; and 3) combined operations which utilize both restriction and malabsorption which include all the variations of short-limb gastric bypass, long-limb or distal gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion. The choice of the operation will be guided by the extent of the patient's obesity, the age of the patient, other co-morbid conditions of the patient, the cost of the operation, the patient's choice, and the surgeon's choice based on training, experience and geographical location. First and foremost, the operation chosen should be effective in causing weight loss and providing long-term weight loss maintenance with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Recommendations are made for choosing an operation for weight control based on effectiveness and safety.