At no time in human history has the issue of obesity and its health implications been greater. At the same time as disease processes and co-morbidities have become increasingly complex and potential treatments more sophisticated, the additional challenge of increasing numbers of critically overweight patients has arisen. Bariatric assessment and therapeutics are becoming more important. This programme was devised to cover the key areas from the genetics and demographics through the management of clinical situations where obesity is co-existent to the treatment options for obesity itself.