Philip R. Schauer, MD, is a leading authority on the use of bariatric surgery to control overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Our video features his discussion of the different benefits of bariatric surgery versus pharmacologic therapy for overweight or obese patients. He has recently published 3 landmark papers on the subject in the New England Journal of Medicine:
- "Bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy for diabetes"
- "Bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy for diabetes--3-year outcomes"
- "Bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy in obese patients with diabetes"
The results of these studies demonstrate that bariatric surgery is effective for weight loss. The weight loss achieved with this technique frequently resulted in a reversal of type 2 diabetes in overweight and obese patients. In some cases these benefits can be achieved with drugs alone.
Dr. Schauer is Chief of Minimally Invasive General Surgery and Director of the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. He is also Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.
