Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS). Obes Surg

Background: The lack of standards for comparison of results was identified by the NIH Consensus Confer-ence panelists as one of the key problems in evaluat-ing reports in the surgical treatment of severe obesity. The analysis of outcomes after bariatric surgery should include weight loss, improvement in comorbid-ities related to obesity, and quality-of-life (QOL) as-sessment. Definitions of success and failure should be established and the presentation of results stan-dardized. Methods: A survey among experienced bariatric surgeons was conducted to study the reporting of results. The concept of evaluating outcomes by using a scoring system was introduced in 1997 and has now been refined further. Psychologists with expertise i