Dr. Kuo-Feng Hsu, Director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery & Weight Management Center
In response to the global surge of chronic diseases driven by obesity, the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery & Weight Management Center at the Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH), led by Director Dr. Kuo-Feng Hsu, has established a pioneering, integrated care platform in Taiwan. By uniting specialists from both medical and surgical departments, along with dietitians, nurses, and other center-based resources, the center promotes a treatment model that is both standardized and personalized.
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is closely linked to chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and various cancers, posing a major challenge to global public health. The TSGH Weight Management Center adopts a "multidisciplinary and comprehensive care" approach, offering a tiered intervention strategy that includes nutrition, exercise, pharmacotherapy, endoscopic procedures, and bariatric surgery. The integration of Shared Decision Making (SDM) enhances patient adherence and long-term outcomes.
The center emphasizes traceable, evidence-based care and has accumulated numerous successful clinical cases. One such case involves a male patient who initially weighed 180 kg with a BMI of 60.1 (height: 173 cm). He presented with multiple comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes (HbA1C: 8.5), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, severe fatty liver disease, and severe obstructive sleep apnea. Following a comprehensive team evaluation and the SDM process, the patient underwent lifestyle modifications and bariatric surgery, followed by integrated postoperative care and monitoring.
Just 15 months after surgery, the patient’s weight dropped to 80 kg, with a remarkable improvement in BMI to 26.7—a total weight loss of 100 kg. Even more encouraging, his multiple comorbidities were nearly fully resolved: blood sugar levels stabilized (HbA1C: 5.4), blood pressure and lipid profiles returned to normal, fatty liver improved from severe to mild, and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea disappeared. His overall quality of life has significantly improved.
Dr. Kuo-Feng Hsu, Director of the Center, emphasized that the treatment strategies at the center are tailored to each individual's health status, including:
• Lifestyle Modifications: A dedicated nutritionist clinic offers personalized dietary and exercise guidance.
• Pharmacotherapy: Prescribing FDA-approved weight loss medications as a non-invasive treatment option.
• Endoscopic Bariatric Treatment (EBT): Procedures such as POSE 2.0, ESG, and intragastric balloons, performed by Dr. Hsu in collaboration with Dr. Chen Hsuan-Wei and Dr. Chen Bao-Chung. This multidisciplinary team is one of the few in Taiwan providing cross-specialty endoscopic surgeries.
• Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment: For patients meeting international indications, laparoscopic surgery and Da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery are offered as surgical options.
To ensure the safety of all treatment procedures, the center conducts all invasive treatments in the operating room, where they are continuously monitored by a specialized anesthesiology team. Additionally, the center utilizes an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol to improve overall care efficiency and patient satisfaction during recovery.
Beyond clinical services, the TSGH Weight Management Center is also actively involved in research and innovation. The "Single Anastomosis Ileal Duodeno-Jejunal Bypass Surgery (SASI)" technique developed by the center has been published in international medical journals, showcasing its leadership in the field of bariatric surgery.
Dr. Hsu emphasized that weight loss should not only focus on controlling body weight but also on improving overall health and maintaining long-term results. The center will continue to advance integrated treatment and educational training, striving to become both a hub for obesity care and a leader in obesity-related academic research in Taiwan.