Torsten Olbers

Professor

I am a Professor of Surgery at Linköping University, Sweden. My national and international reputation stems from combining a busy clinical activity with continuous academic productivity.

Treatment of severe obesity and metabolic disease

I have conducted several randomized controlled trials within bariatric surgery and is currently leading the Swedish Nationwide BEST (Bypass Equipoise Sleeve Trial) project (n=2100). I am the principal investigator for the Swedish research program for adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery- AMOS, and I am also one of the authors and main surgical contributors to the Swedish Obese Subject (SOS) study.

I have performed several thousand laparoscopic baratric surgical procedures (gastric bypass, Sleeve gastrectomy and lap BPD/ Duodenal switch, revisional bariatric surgery) and described and refined the double loop technique for performing laparoscopic gastric bypass together with Hans Lönroth, which is currently the dominating bariatric technique in the Scandinavian countries and many other places worldwide.

As a regularly invited lecturer at international conferences I have contributed to development of bariatric surgical worldwide.

Curriculum vitae

Education
- MD (University of Lund 1991)
- Recidency in surgery (Kristianstad 1993-1998)
- PhD (Sahlgrenska academy, University of Gothenburg 2004)
- Pedagogical course for teaching skills at Sahlgrenska 2005, 2009 and 2012
- Postdoc (Harvard Medical School, Boston 2006-2007)

Current position
- Consultant surgeon and researcher, Sahlgrenska University hospital
- Head of a research group in Obesity surgery at Sahlgrenska academy
- Lead Surgeon of Bariatric surgery, Carlanderska hospital
- Assistant Professor of Surgery since 2014

Awards
- Best student during medical education: Surgery 1987
- Best resident; National Surgical examination 1998
- Best undergraduate teacher award; Sahlgrenska 2006
- Swedish Surgical Society award for contribution to science 2008

Administrative
- Member of executive board Dept of Surgery Kristianstad 1997-1998
- Member of the board in Swedish Association of Minimal Invasive Surgery (MIK) 2001-2005
- Member of Swedish Obesity Surgery Expert Group since 2005
- Member of Editorial board, “Swedish Surgery”
- Director of Minimal Invasive and Trauma surgery unit, Sahlgrenska University Hospital from 2006 to 2008
- Director of surgical Obesity Centre, Sahlgrenska 2008 to 2009
- Medical director of Bariatric surgery at Carlanderska 2006-
- Associate editor for Clinical Obesity and Scandinavian Journal of Surgery
- Reviewer on regular basis for several international medical journals
- Chairman for the Swedish Association of Bariatric Surgeons (IFSO-chapter)
- Board member of SOReg (Scandinavian Obesity surgery Registry)

Publications

Ten most important publications

1. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in adolescents with severe obesity (AMOS): a prospective, 5-year, Swedish nationwide study. Olbers T, Beamish AJ, Gronowitz E, Flodmark CE, Dahlgren J, Bruze G, Ekbom K, Friberg P, Göthberg G, Järvholm K, Karlsson J, Mårild S, Neovius M, Peltonen M, Marcus C. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology 2017:5(3):174-183.

2. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Vertical Banded Gastroplasty Induce Long-Term Changes on the Human Gut Microbiome Contributing to Fat Mass Regulation. Tremaroli V, Karlsson F, Werling M, Ståhlman M, Kovatcheva-Datchary P, Olbers T, Fändriks L, le Roux CW, Nielsen J, Bäckhed F. Cell Metab. 2015

3. Long-term results of a randomized clinical trial comparing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with vertical banded gastroplasty. Werling M, Fändriks L, Björklund P, Maleckas A, Brandberg J, Lönroth H, le Roux CW, Olbers T. Br J Surg 2013

4. Bariatric surgery and long-term cardiovascular events. Sjöström L, Peltonen M, Jacobson P, Sjöström C, Karason K, Wedel H, Ahlin S, Anveden Å, Bengtsson C, Bergmark G, Bouchard C, Carlsson B, Dahlgren S, Karlsson J, Lindroos A, Lönroth H, Narbro K, Näslund I, Olbers T, Svensson P, Carlsson L. JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association 2012:307(1):56-65.

5. Changes in eating behaviour and meal pattern following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Laurenius A, Larsson I, Bueter M, Berteus Forslund H, Bosaeus I, Lönroth H, Fändriks L, Olbers T. Int J Obes (Lond) 2012:36(3):348-55

6. Weight loss, cardiovascular risk factors, and quality of life after gastric bypass and duodenal switch: a randomized trial. Søvik TT, Aasheim ET, Taha O, Engström M, Fagerland MW, Björkman S, Kristinsson J, Birkeland KI, Mala T, Olbers T. Ann Intern Med. 2011:155(5):281-91

7. Gut hormones as mediators of appetite and weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. le Roux CW, Welbourn R, Werling M, Osborne A, Kokkinos A, Laurenius A, Lönroth H, Fändriks L, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR, Olbers T. Ann Surg. 2007 Nov;246(5):780-5

8. Effects of bariatric surgery on mortality in Swedish obese subjects. Sjöström L, Narbro K, Sjöström CD, Karason K, Larsson B, Wedel H, Lystig T, Sullivan M,
Bouchard C, Carlsson B, Bengtsson C, Dahlgren S, Gummesson A, Jacobson P, Karlsson J, Lindroos AK, Lönroth H, Näslund I, Olbers T, Stenlöf K, Torgerson J, Agren G, Carlsson LM; Swedish Obese Subjects Study. N Engl J Med. 2007 Aug 23;357(8):741-52.

9. Body composition, dietary intake, and energy expenditure after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty: a randomized clinical trial. Olbers T, Björkman S, Lindroos A, Maleckas A, Lönn L, Sjöström L, Lönroth H. Ann Surg. 2006 Nov;244(5):715-22

10. Laparoscopic gastric bypass: development of technique, respiratory function, and long-term outcome. Olbers T, Lönroth H, Fagevik-Olsén M, Lundell L. Obes Surg. 2003 Jun;13(3):364-70

Research

I am a research fellow at Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM).

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Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine at LiU

WCMM at LiU focuses on the medicine-technology interface, and build upon our existing strengths in research within medical technology, materials science and bioengineering.

Organisation

Teaser image for the division KOO at BKV.

Division of Surgery, Orthopedics and Oncology (KOO)

We carry out research in the fields of experimental orthopedics, surgery and oncology.

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV)

What characterizes the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV) is the wide breadth of research and education. BKV is one of the largest departments at LiU with affiliation mainly to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

News

SEK 10 million for research in children's medicine

The Joanna Cocozza Foundation has announced the recipients of research grants for 2020. Funding has been awarded in the form of establishment and consolidation grants, support for visiting researchers, and a further seven project grants.