chapter 1 Obesity: Pathogenetic Mechanisms / chapter 2 Epidemiology and Comorbidities of Morbid Obesity / chapter 3 Treating the Morbidly Obese Patient: A Lifestyle Approach to a Chronic Condition / chapter 4 Preoperative Evaluation and Intraoperative Care of the Obese / chapter 5 Essentials of a Bariatric Surgery Program / chapter 6 Nutrition and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery / chapter 7 Laparoscopic Vertical Banded Gastroplasty / chapter 8 Physiology of Laparoscopy in the Morbidly Obese / chapter 9 The Pathophysiology of Severe Obesity and the Effects of Surgically Induced Weight Loss / chapter 10 Techniques of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass / chapter 11 Outcome of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass / chapter 12 Changing Intestinal Absorption for Treating Obesity / chapter 13 Laparoscopic Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding / chapter 14 Outcomes of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding / chapter 15 Part II of Debate: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass / chapter 16 Complications of Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery / chapter 17 Postoperative Follow-Up and Nutritional Management