Surgery for morbid obesity is considered when other treatments have failed a number of procedures are available but the effects of these surgical procedures compared with medical management and with each other are uncertain objectives to assess the effects of surgery for morbid obesity. Surgery for morbid obesity the ideal surgical intervention for morbid obesity should be effective safe and applicable to all patients it must achieve considerable weight loss and resolution of comorbidity low operative morbidity and mortality is essential with a short hospital stay and rapid return to normal activity desirable. Journal of surgical research 33 74 88 1982 a review surgery for morbid obesity stephen n joffe bsc mb chb md frcs pcs submitted for publication march 11 1981 morbid obesity describes a condition of more than twice the ideal weight for at least 5 years despite efforts for an effective and sustained weight reduction 27 51 152 186. 1 postgrad med j 2007 jan839758 15 surgery for morbid obesity bennett jm1 mehta s rhodes m author information 1department of upper gastrointestinal surgery norfolk and norwich university hospital nhs trust norwich uk the prevalence of morbid obesity in the uk population is rising bringing with it increased levels of cardiovascular disease diabetes arthritis and early