Although bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment modality for obesity, only around 1.5% of the population that potentially benefits, undergo surgery. The reasons for this are complex. Further, there is inequity in access with less than 10% of surgery performed in the public sector.
At such levels, bariatric surgery is not a population level intervention. It helps a very small minority of individuals. But could it do more?
The presentation will explore how increased utilisation of bariatric surgery could be encouraged, the potential impact of this in the “obesity crisis” and the importance of this in the public sector from an Australian perspective.