Declining Bariatric Surgery Volumes and Shifting Practice Patterns: A Five-Year Analysis of Over One Million Procedures
-
By
-
Mélissa V. Wills
-
Xinlei Zhu
-
Doua Elamin
-
Ricard Corcelles
-
Matthew Kroh
-
Jerry Dang
-
Andrew Strong
-
Salvador Navarrete
-
Valentin Mocanu
-
July 15, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Trends in Bariatric Surgery: A Five-Year Review of Procedure Volumes and Practice Changes Involving Over One Million Cases
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Bariatric Surgery |
| Key Mechanisms | Surgical interventions for obesity and associated comorbidities. |
| Target Population | Patients with obesity and related comorbidities eligible for bariatric surgery. |
| Care Setting | Accredited metabolic and bariatric surgery centers. |
Key Highlights
- Bariatric surgery volumes increased from 8,600 in 1993 to 256,000 in 2019.
- Only approximately 1% of eligible patients undergo bariatric surgery.
- Female predominance in procedures increased from 81.73% to 82.48% from 2020 to 2024.
- Racial and ethnic diversity among patients increased significantly during the study period.
- Mean body mass index remained stable at around 44.7 kg/m².
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Assessment of obesity and related comorbidities to determine eligibility for surgery.
Management
- Selection of appropriate surgical procedure based on patient characteristics and comorbidities.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Postoperative monitoring for complications such as anastomotic leak and readmission.
Risks
- Potential complications include cardiac issues, pneumonia, and venous thromboembolism.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients undergoing primary, revisional, or conversion bariatric procedures.
Procedures include sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and others.
Clinical Best Practices
- Centralization of procedures to accredited centers to improve safety.
- Utilization of standardized pre-, intra-, and postoperative protocols.
Related Resources & Content
