Report: Asian Consensus Meeting on Metabolic Surgery. Recommendations for the use of Bariatric and Gastrointestinal Metabolic Surgery for Treatment of Obesity and Type II Diabetes Mellitus in the Asian Population

The report submitted is a detailed analysis of the happenings and outcomes of a two day deliberation that was organized in Trivandrum, India on the 9th and 10th August 2009. Asian Consensus Meeting on Metabolic Surgery (ACMOMS) was the first ever meeting of its kind in Asia where 52 professionals involved in the field of bariatric surgery, metabolic surgery, diabetes, and medical research from countries across Asia and the GCC met at Trivandrum, India to vote for and create a new set of guidelines for the Asian genotype, which were different from the NIH guidelines set for bariatric surgery. The aim was to set culturally, geographically, and genetically relevant standards for the management of obesity and metabolic syndrome. It is known that Asians have a higher adiposity for a given level of obesity, and this is visceral obesity as compared to other populations. Currently, all over the world and in Asia as well, guidelines set by NIH in 1991 are being followed. Surgeons believe that NIH guidelines need to be revisited and modified. It is in light of these observations that the genesis of ACMOMS took place. At ACMOMS, it was recommended that the NIH guidelines are not suitable for Asians, and the BMI guidelines should be lowered for indication of surgery. Waist or waist-hip ratio must gain significance as compared to BMI alone in Asia. The collective recommendations were submitted as a report to the executive committee for approval. As the Asia Pacific region consists of more than half of the world's population, the dire health and economic consequences of this epidemic demand urgent action from the medical fraternity in this region, and we hope that the recommendations will help to review the currently accepted guidelines.