How to evaluate bariatric surgery as a treatment for chronic morbid obesity in an HMO population

The purpose of publishing this study is not really to share outcomes, though those might be useful. The reason I want to share this study is to assist other wishing to devise similar ones.

There are several medical treatments for morbid obesity, including medication, surgery, and prescribed diet and exercise plans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bariatric surgery as a treatment for morbid obesity, analyze the impact to utilization, and to evaluate other treatment options in comparison to surgery.

It's a common idea that once a patient undergoes weight loss surgery, all is well. They lose the weight and become healthier because of it. However, in 2016 I was introduced to the idea that not only do bariatric surgery patients regain the weight within 10 years, but gain back more weight than they started with. To say this is troubling is an understatement. 

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