Weight-reducing (= bariatric) surgery is today the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. In addition to weight loss, these procedures lead to positive changes in the metabolism, which is associated with an improvement in the accompanying and secondary diseases such as diabetes, blood lipid disorders and high blood pressure. Understanding which mechanisms trigger these positive changes in the metabolism is an important goal of overweight and diabetes research.

Surgical therapy continues to evolve. New, gentle techniques, such as robotic surgery promise excellent results as well as faster recovery. Also in the field of gastroenterology there are new devlopments in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. To investigate and review these new therapeutic approaches, clinical research projects are essential.