Reply to Schlottmann et al. Bariatric surgery: need for data rather than opinions

Weight loss surgery is a highly effective treatment for patients with morbid obesity, and over the last decade the number of bariatric operations has increased steadily. Bariatric surgery not only decreases the body mass index but has also a positive effect on patients’ co-morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea, thus extending life expectancy [ [1] Schauer P.R. Bhatt D.L. Kirwan J.P. et al. STAMPEDE InvestigatorsBariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy for diabetes - 5-year outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2017; 376: 641-651 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1542) Google Scholar ]. Moreover, bariatric surgery has been associated with a significantly lower incidence of obesity-associated cancer and cancer-related mortality [ [2] Aminian A. Wilson R. Al-Kurd A. et al. Association of bariatric surgery with cancer risk and mortality in adults with obesity. JAMA. 2022; 327: 2423-2433 Crossref PubMed Scopus (43) Google Scholar ]. Reply to Schlottmann et al.Surgery for Obesity and Related DiseasesVol. 19Issue 5PreviewI thank Schlottmann et al. for their interest in my paper, “5-Year Follow-Up at an Accredited Community Bariatric Practice: What Is an Acceptable Follow-Up Rate?” [1]. Schlottmann et al. use this occasion as a call to action, and correctly term the lack of long-term follow-up the “Achilles heel” of metabolic and bariatric surgery [2]. They correctly point out the dismal worldwide follow-up of bariatric patients [3]. Even in countries with socialized healthcare, follow-up is poor. For example, in Sweden, there are regional differences in follow-up, with some areas reporting only 15% follow-up at 2 years [4]. Full-Text PDF