Practical Recommendations of the Obesity Management Task Force of the European Association for the Study of Obesity for the Post-Bariatric Surgery Medical Management

TLDR

Bariatric surgery is the most effective long‑term therapy for severe obesity, recommended by guidelines, but it can cause new clinical problems that require specific diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic needs, and complex cases should be referred to a multidisciplinary centre. The recommendations aim to equip clinicians with the special knowledge and skills needed to provide first‑level adequate medical care to post‑bariatric patients. Basic information about nutrition, management of comorbidities, pregnancy, psychological issues, weight‑regain prevention and management is derived from current evidence and existing guidelines, and a short list of clinical practical recommendations is provided for each item.

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is today the most effective long-term therapy for the management of patients with severe obesity, and its use is recommended by the relevant guidelines of the management of obesity in adults. Bariatric surgery is in general safe and effective, but it can cause new clinical problems and is associated with specific diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic needs. For clinicians, the acquisition of special knowledge and skills is required in order to deliver appropriate and effective care to the post-bariatric patient. In the present recommendations, the basic notions needed to provide first-level adequate medical care to post-bariatric patients are summarised. Basic information about nutrition, management of co-morbidities, pregnancy, psychological issues as well as weight regain prevention and management is derived from current evidences and existing guidelines. A short list of clinical practical recommendations is included for each item. It remains clear that referral to a bariatric multidisciplinary centre, preferably the one performing the original procedure, should be considered in case of more complex clinical situations.