Surgical intervention may be necessary for a proportion of patients who are not be able to lose weight through medical, dietary, exercise and lifestyle interventions alone. Surgical intervention for obesity, also referred to as bariatric (from the Greek ‘baros’, meaning ‘weight’) surgery, effects weight loss by modifying gastro-intestinal anatomy. The Ministry of Health Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines published in 2004 endorses the role of surgery once patients fulfill specific criteria related to weight and co-morbid conditions. Surgery is medically indicated if a patient’s body mass index (BMI) is higher than 37.5 without any co-morbidities (Class III obesity), or above 32.5 (Class II obesity) with co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertensions, hyperlipidaemia and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Weight control can lead to significant improvement in these metabolic disorders. It must be emphasized that surgery is most effective in achieving weight loss when performed in the setting of a multi-disciplinary programme. At the SGH LIFE Centre, we have a team approach to the management of obesity. Patients will be assessed by specialists in obesity, endocrinology, exercise and dietetics as necessary, before surgery is contemplated. Our surgeons are specially trained in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery.