History of the Development of Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery

The surgical treatment of morbid obesity and the numerous medical conditions associated with obesity has evolved over the past 58 years since the first operation specifically designed to create weight loss was performed and reported. Many different procedures and innumerable variations of procedures have since come and gone. The transition to laparoscopic procedures has dramatically improved recovery time, discomfort, cosmesis, and many complications. Lessons learned during the evolution of bariatric and metabolic surgery are important to remember in order to continue to improve safety and efficacy.