Obesity is an ubiquitous epidemic affecting all age groups. Several health hazards are directly or indirectly linked to obesity resulting in premature death usually because of cardiovascular disease. Medical and behavioural approaches to weight loss may be ineffective in many individuals. Hence, bariatric surgical procedures are increasingly recommended because of their efficacy in reducing weight and its related complications. In a recent survey involving countries belonging to the 'International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders', there were approximately 340 770 bariatric procedures performed worldwide in 2011, the majority being performed in the USA [1].
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