More than 50% of adult South Africans are overweight or obese, with approximately 68% of women and 31% of men classified as obese. Obesity is linked to a range of serious health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea and Type 2 diabetes. While weight-loss medications such as GLP-1s have dominated health conversations in recent years, they may not be suitable or effective for everyone, particularly those living with severe obesity. For some individuals, bariatric surgery becomes an option when lifestyle changes and medical interventions have not delivered the desired results. But what factors lead someone to consider this major medical procedure? Who qualifies for it, and what does life look like after surgery? To help us unpack these questions, we are joined by bariatric and laparoscopic surgeon, Dr Nkosikhona Mlimi.