This is the work of clinical research. It cannot be short circuited even though it would be nice to have a standard scheme for reporting results that could be recommended within the next few years. It takes a few years to collect enough data to perform any analysis. It then takes at least 10 years for each patient to collect enough data to determine the ten year result of the treatments. There is never an end to the need for application of the scientific method.
Research requires repeated adjustments and new hypotheses.
With each required change, the time line must be restarted. One of the positive aspects of the proposal is that Oria is the chairman of The Standards Committee of the American Society for Obesity Surgery and is therefore in a position to encourage further development of the proposal. As many members of ASBS as possible should give this proposal serious study and consider how it could help in their practice of surgery for obesity. The more input there is at this stage of planning, the more likely we will be of determining what is best for our patients, not just for a few years but for their remaining years of life and for a normal length of life. Favretti F, Cadiere GB, Segato G, et al.