2025 in review: International Federation for the Surgery and Other Therapies for Obesity (IFSO)
This year, IFSO hosted another successful World Congress, attended by 2400 delegates from 50 countries, its members contributed to the landmark Lancet Commission on Definition and Diagnostic Criteria of Clinical Obesity, and published several key papers on obesity treatment.
The International Federation for the Surgery and Other Therapies for Obesity (IFSO) is a Scientific Organization composed of 77 national associations of Bariatric Surgeons and Integrated Health Professionals. Read more about IFSO’s year, and their plans for 2026 below.
XXVIII IFSO World Congress
IFSO’s yearly World Congress provides a forum to exchange knowledge on surgical treatment of obesity, to present new techniques, research and concepts, and to meet the experts in the field.
The XXVIII IFSO World Congress was held in Santiago, Chile, from 9 to 12 September 2025. The meeting focused on the theme ‘Combined Therapies: The Dawn of a New Era’.
The Scientific Program included Pre-Congress Courses, Hands-on Workshops, e-Poster Sessions, and Multidisciplinary Sessions. The Congress was attended by 2400 delegates from 50 countries.
During the XXVIII World Congress, IFSO was pleased to announce an important milestone: the change of its name from the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders to the International Federation for the Surgery and Other Therapies for Obesity. This change reflects our commitment to recognizing obesity as a complex and chronic disease that requires a comprehensive, multimodal approach to achieve the best possible outcomes for individuals living with obesity and its related complications.
Pictured: Dr. Ricardo Cohen (IFSO President 2024-2025) with Dr. Camilo Boza (IFSO 2026 Congress President)
Global Launch of the Lancet Commission on Definition and Diagnostic Criteria of Clinical Obesity
Have you missed the global launch of the Commission on Clinical Obesity? You can watch this LANDMARK EVENT FOR OBESITY online at your convenience, for free.
About The Commission on Clinical Obesity
Chaired by Professor Francesco Rubino, King's College London, the Commission involves 56 international experts, including leading IFSO members and current President Dr Ricardo Cohen. The initiative has been organised in partnership with King’s Health Partners (KHP), London, UK.
Endorsed by IFSO and other 78 medical organisations around the world – the Commission sets out a new evidence-based definition of clinical obesity, intended as a chronic, systemic illness directly caused by excess adiposity. The proposal is designed to address limitations in the traditional definition and diagnosis of obesity that hinder clinical practice and healthcare policies, resulting in individuals with obesity not receiving the care they need. By establishing a medically coherent, nuanced and clinically-based diagnosis of obesity, the Commission also aims to settle the ongoing dispute around the idea of obesity as a disease, which has been at the centre of one of most controversial and polarising debates in modern medicine.
"Defining clinical obesity as a distinct illness makes a transformational difference…there is a sharp before and after moment here." Dr Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet
Other important publications
First Global Consensus recommendations aimed at optimizing long-term outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy
The International Federation for the Surgery and Other Therapies for Obesity (IFSO) has published in The British Journal of Surgery (BJS, 2025) the First Global Consensus recommendations aimed at optimizing long-term outcomes after sleeve gastrectomy.
Developed through a multidisciplinary Delphi process involving 42 international experts in surgery, gastroenterology, endocrinology, and nutrition, the consensus offers graded, evidence-based recommendations for the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux, recurrent weight gain, metabolic relapse, and suboptimal clinical response after sleeve gastrectomy.
Beyond clinical guidance, it highlights unresolved knowledge gaps and research priorities, establishing a unified framework to improve postoperative care and harmonize outcome definitions worldwide.
The Venice Declaration: Obesity as a Disease—A Call to Action for Diagnosis, Multimodal Treatment, and Policy Change
Obesity is not a personal fault — it’s a complex, chronic, and relapsing disease. The IFSO Venice Declaration, presented during the IFSO European Chapter Congress (May 15–17, 2025), calls for global action to redefine how we diagnose, treat, and talk about obesity. It’s time to shift the paradigm — with multimodal, equitable, and stigma-free care for all.
IFSO Position Statement on the Role of Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Before and After Metabolic Bariatric Surgery
Published in Obesity Surgery Journal in August 2025. In formulating the following seven recommendations, the expert Taskforce considered the current literature as well as the recommendations from other expert bodies including the American College of Gastroenterologists (2022), National Institute for Clinical Excellence/British Society for Gastroenterology (2023) and European Society of Gastroenterology (2023):
- As symptoms are not an accurate predictor of pre-MBS pathology and/or susceptibility to post-MBS GERD, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy should be strongly considered prior to MBS.
- Upper gastrointestinal gastroscopy must be performed after MBS if patients develop alert symptoms such as dysphagia, odynophagia, weight loss, anemia or gastrointestinal bleeding.
- People with incident or refractory GERD after MBS should undergo an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
- Patients undergoing MBS with known BE should remain on a surveillance program as recommended by the relevant national professional society or body.
- Patients living with GERD and/or BE should be fully informed about the relative risks of the various MBS procedures to enable shared-decision making.
- For patients with known BE, bypass procedures may be preferred
- More research, including registry studies, needs to be undertaken to better delineate the impact of MBS on known BE.
IFSO 2026 Toronto
The XXIX IFSO World Congress will be held in Toronto, Canada, on 1-4 September 2026.
The Call for Abstracts is now open! Submit your new research on ifso2026.org
20 Scholarship are available for deserving Surgeons and Integrated Health Professionals. The principal purpose of the IFSO Scholarship is to support attendance at the IFSO World Congress with public recognition of their achievement and presence. Apply now!
Become an IFSO Certified Surgeon with the IFSO Certification Program
IFSO 2026 Toronto will host the first exam for the IFSO Certification Program.
This international mark of excellence is designed to recognize surgeons who demonstrate advanced knowledge, clinical judgment, and commitment to the highest standards in the surgical treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases. The certification pathway includes the evaluation of clinical cases, a multiple-choice examination, and the discussion of a scientific paper. A limited number of candidates will be admitted to sit for the 2026 examination, which will be held on site during the IFSO 2026 Toronto Congress.
MORE INFO
IFSO Observership Program
This Program is meant to offer IFSO members, both Metabolic Bariatric Surgeons and Integrated Health Professionals in the early phase of their career, the chance to visit for a period of one to three weeks the best Metabolic Bariatric Surgery centres in the world, to do an amazing experience and bring back home knowledge and new skills.
Applications will open soon!
Visit IFSO
Find out more about the International Federation for the Surgery and Other Therapies for Obesity (IFSO).
IFSO