Welcome to APMBSS
THE ASIA PACIFIC METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY SOCIETY is a premier institution representing leading surgeons and medical professionals dedicated to advancing the field of metabolic and bariatric surgery in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 2004, we have paved the way for surgical innovations, research, and collaborations that benefit patients across Asia-Pacific.
Welcome note from the President
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Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Fellow Members of the Asia-Pacific Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Society (APMBSS),
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As I reflect on the remarkable journey we've shared since our founding in 2004 by a spirited cohort of surgeons, including Professor Wei-Jei Lee, the foundational purpose of our strong alliance remains absolutely unwavering: to advance the field of metabolic and bariatric surgery across a vast region rich in culture, ethnicity, and history. While the wider Asia-Pacific region is defined by dynamic population growth and rapid economic expansion, it confronts an equally immense challenge: the mounting crisis of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Across many of our nations, this dual epidemic—"diabesity"—places a profound and unsustainable burden on our health systems and on individual lives.
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The landscape of treatment for obesity and metabolic disease has shifted dramatically in recent years. While surgical intervention remains the gold standard—offering robust, durable weight loss, high rates of metabolic remission, and long-term comorbidity resolution—the emergence of powerful new pharmacologic agents, notably GLP-1-based therapies, is fundamentally reshaping our clinical practice. The critical question before us is not about competition, but about strategic integration: determining when surgery is primary, when medical management is a powerful adjunct, and when a combined, multimodal approach is most appropriate.
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True to our heritage, the APMBSS mission has always prioritized teaching, training, collaboration, and raising standards of care over organizational rivalry. Our immediate imperative now is to generate robust regional data and refine guidelines specifically tailored to the unique Asian-Pacific patient profile, while also advocating for equitable access to all effective interventions. We must ensure that our young surgeons, physicians, dietitians, and allied health professionals are equipped not just with technical skill, but with a holistic, deep understanding of patient selection, lifelong follow-up protocols, and true multidisciplinary care across our diverse settings.
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As your President, I am deeply honored to lead at this pivotal juncture. I urge us to move forward as a unified family—surgeons, clinicians, researchers, and allied professionals—committed absolutely to offering each patient the right tool, at the right time, and supporting them throughout their lives. The challenge is immense, but our collective resolve is greater. Through dedication and cooperation, we will significantly advance metabolic and bariatric care across our region and deliver a profound, meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Warmest regards,
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Sang Kuon Lee
President, Asia-Pacific Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Society (APMBSS)
