The rise in obesity has fuelled the current debate of its classification as a disease. Contrary to just being a medical condition or a risk factor for other diseases, obesity is a complex disease with multifaceted aetiology as well as its own disabling capacities, pathophysiology, and comorbidities. The problem of obesity in Malaysia is serious and calls for active intervention by all stakeholders ranging from government agencies to insurers and healthcare providers. To aid efforts to curb obesity, this consensus statement for bariatric surgery provides a basis for inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as the types of procedures accepted as the norm in Malaysia. This consensus statement was initiated by the Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Malaysia and was collaborated with representatives from the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

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