GASTRIC BYPASS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF OBESITY CARE: CHALLENGES FOR HEALTH SYSTEMS

Abstract

Obesity represents a major challenge for health systems, requiring care strategies that go beyond isolated interventions and address service organization and continuity of care. In this context, gastric bypass has been widely used in the treatment of severe obesity, demanding analysis beyond its clinical effectiveness. This study aimed to analyze the available evidence on the organization of obesity care in the context of gastric bypass, focusing on challenges faced by health systems. This is an integrative literature review conducted through searches in PubMed and LILACS databases, including full-text studies published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish that addressed issues related to care organization, postoperative follow-up, service integration, and multiprofessional care. The analysis showed that the effectiveness of gastric bypass is closely associated with the existence of structured care pathways, coordination across levels of care, and the provision of longitudinal follow-up. The findings indicate that the main challenges related to gastric bypass lie within the organization of health systems, highlighting the need for integrated care models capable of promoting continuous, comprehensive, and equitable care for individuals with obesity.