1. Obesity : pathogenetic mechanisms / John G. Kral -- 2. Epidemiology and comorbidities of morbid obesity / Crystal T. Schlösser and Sayeed Ikramuddin -- 3. Treating the morbidly obese patient : a lifestyle approach to a chronic condition / Jennifer E. Taylor, Sara A. Pyle, Walker S. Carlos Poston, and John P. Foreyt -- 4. Preoperative evaluation and intraoperative care of the obese / Rodrigo Gonzalez, Scott F. Gallagher, Lisa Saff Koche, and Michel M. Murr -- 5. Essentials of a bariatric surgery program / Samer G. Mattar and Tomasz Rogula -- 6. Nutrition and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery -- 7. Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty / J.K. Champion and Michael Williams -- 8. Physiology of laparoscopy in the morbidly obese / David Magner and Ninh T. Nguyen -- 9. The pathophysiology of severe obesity and the effects of surgically induced weight loss / Harvey J. Sugerman -- 10. Techniques of laparoscopic gastric bypass / Benjamin E. Schneider, Ninh T. Nguyen, and Daniel B. Jones -- 11. Outcome of laparoscopic gastric bypass / Corrigan L. McBride, Harvey J. Sugerman, and Eric J. DeMaria -- 12. Changing intestinal absorption for treating obesity / Picard Marceau, Simon Biron, Frédéric Simon Hould, Stéfane Lebel, and Simon Marceau -- 13. Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding / Jeff W. Allen and Christine J. Ren -- 14. Outcomes of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding / Paul E. O'Brienz -- 15. Part II of debate : laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass / Eric J. DeMaria -- 16. Complications of laparoscopic bariatric surgery / Daniel M. Herron -- 17. Postoperative follow-up and nutritional management / Scott A. Shikora and Margaret M. Furtado.