European journal of internal medicine
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Mar 2008
ReviewProposal for a multidisciplinary approach to the patient with morbid obesity: the St. Franciscus Hospital morbid obesity program.
Morbid obesity is a serious disease as it is accompanied by substantial co-morbidity and mortality. The prevalence is increasing to an alarming extent, in Europe as well as in the United States. In the past few decades, bariatric surgery has developed and gained importance. ⋯ The importance of a standardized protocol, the use of selection criteria, and a multidisciplinary approach have been stressed but not yet described in detail. Therefore, in this article, the multidisciplinary approach and the treatment protocol that have been applied in our hospital for more than 20 years are set out in a detailed manner. The application of a strict protocol may help to select and follow-up motivated patients and to organize multidisciplinary research activities.