Key Points

• Obesity is a now very common condition encountered in UK and can be associated with significant comorbidities with direct impact on our practice.
• Bariatric surgery is effective and safe with benefits of regression of associated comorbidities and improvement on quality of life.
• The perioperative care for bariatric surgery is provided by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anaesthetists, dieticians, physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists and nurses.
• As anaesthetists, we bring not only our practical skills of intravenous access, airway management, safe transfers, pain management and treatment of the unwell patient to the table, we are also key players in preoperative assessment and optimisation, elements that are essential to making a full postoperative recovery.