Curriculum vitae-
Torsten Olbers
Born: 28 June 1964, Sweden
Education
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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
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Head of a research group in Obesity at Sahlgrenska academy
Consultant bariatric surgeon at Imperial college London
Lead Surgeon of Bariatric surgery, Carlanderska hospital
Awards
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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
Grants
- KVG (Västra Götaland region) grant 2001-2004; 1.200.000 SEK
- KVG (Västra Götaland region) grant 2003-2006; 1.100.000 SEK
- Avtal för Läkares Forskning (ALF) grant 2005 to 2008; 2.100.000 SEK
- Ihre grant, Swedish surgical society; 100.000 SEK
- von Sydow and Philipson foundations: 300.000 SEK
- Barnhusdirektionen 250.000 SEK
International and national reputation
My national and international reputation stems from having performed more than 2500
laparoscopic baratric surgical procedures (gastric bypass, Sleeve and lap BPD/ Duodenal
switch, revisional bariatric surgery). I also described the omega loop technique for
performing laparoscopic gastric bypass together with Hans Lönroth (Obesity surgery
2003), which currently is the commonest used bariatric technique in the Scandinavian
countries. I’m also credited with conducting two of the few randomized controlled trials
in bariatric surgery and the currently largest controlled study for bariatric surgery in
adolescents. As one of the authors and major surgical contributors to the Swedish Obese
Subject (SOS) study I’ve gained a reputation for clinical excellence and sound clinical
judgment. I’ve given several plenary lectures on a wide range of topics at international
conferences and have facilitated establishment of bariatric surgical practice by having
lectures and performing demonstration operations and proctoring in Finland, Egypt,
Norway, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, Dubai, Kuwait, Lithuania, Holland, UK, India and
Sweden.
Administrative
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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 2006Associate editor for Clinical Obesity
Reviewer on regular basis for several international medical journals
Teaching
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Principal responsibility for undergraduate surgical education Sahlgrenska Academy,
University of Gothenburg 2003-2004
Organiser of international courses on laparoscopic gastric bypass four times yearly
from 2003-2008
Invited lecturer in Finland (University of Helsinki, University of Oulo, University of
Kuopio); Egypt (University of Kairo, Nasser Institute, Ain Shams medical school),
Norway (University of Trondheim, University of Oslo); Denmark (University of
Copenhagen, Århus); Dubai Univerity; Kuwait; Greece (University of Patras); Spain
(University of Barcelona); USA (Cleveland clinic, Miami; Harvard, Boston);
Belgium (University of Ghent); India (Chennai and Coimbatore); Lithuania
(University of Kaunas); Imperial College London, Japan (Yokohama University);
Austria (Univerity of Salzburg); Italy (University of Naples)
Teacher on PhD courses Sahlgrenska academy 2007-2009
Main supervisor for two PhD students and co-supervisor for three at Sahlgrenska
academy
Publications until Aug 2012, Torsten Olbers
35. Two-year outcome of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in adolescents with severe
obesity: results from a Swedish Nationwide Study (AMOS)
T Olbers, E Gronowitz, M Werling, S Mårlid, C-E Flodmark, M Peltonen, G Göthberg, J
Karlsson, K Ekbom, LV Sjöström,
J Dahlgren, H Lönroth, P Friberg and C Marcus
International Journal of Obesity, Sept 2012 online 2012-09-25
34. A randomized clinical trial comparing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Vertical Banded
Gastroplasty – long-term effects'
Werling M, Fändriks L, Björklund P, Maleckas A, Brandberg J, Lönroth H, Le Roux CW,
Olbers T
British Journal of Surgery, in press
33. Gastrointestinal function and eating behavior after gastric bypass and duodenal switch.
Søvik TT, Karlsson J, Aasheim ET, Fagerland MW, Björkman S, Engström M, Kristinsson
J, Olbers T, Mala T.
Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012 Jun 28. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 22951078
32. Gastric bypass surgery for obesity decreases the reward value of a sweet-fat stimulus as
assessed in a progressive ratio task.
Miras AD, Jackson RN, Jackson SN, Goldstone AP, Olbers T, Hackenberg T, Spector AC,
le Roux CW.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Sep;96(3):467-73. Epub 2012 Jul 25.
PMID: 22836034
31. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in mice--surgical technique and characterisation.
Seyfried F, Lannoo M, Gsell W, Tremoleda JL, Bueter M, Olbers T, Jurowich C, Germer
CT, le Roux CW.
Obes Surg. 2012 Jul;22(7):1117-25.
30. Effect of bypassing the proximal gut on gut hormones involved with glycemic control
and weight loss.
Pournaras DJ, Aasheim ET, Bueter M, Ahmed AR, Welbourn R, Olbers T, le Roux CW.
Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012 Jul;8(4):371-4. Epub 2012 Mar 3.
PMID: 22480751
29. Bariatric surgery or the fairy tale about the ugly duckling].
Olbers T.
Lakartidningen. 2011 Dec 7-13;108(49):2570-3. Review. Swedish.
PMID: 22468392
28. Bariatric surgery and long-term cardiovascular events.
Sjöström L, Peltonen M, Jacobson P, Sjöström CD, Karason K, Wedel H, Ahlin S, Anveden
Å, Bengtsson C, Bergmark G, Bouchard C, Carlsson B, Dahlgren S, Karlsson J, Lindroos
AK, Lönroth H, Narbro K, Näslund I, Olbers T, Svensson PA, Carlsson LM.
JAMA. 2012 Jan 4;307(1):56-65.
PMID: 22215166
27. Changes in eating behaviour and meal pattern following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Laurenius A, Larsson I, Bueter M, Melanson KJ, Bosaeus I, Forslund HB, Lönroth H,
Fändriks L, Olbers T.
Int J Obes (Lond). 2012 Mar;36(3):348-55. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2011.217. Epub 2011 Nov 29.
PMID: 22124454
26. Effect of the definition of type II diabetes remission in the evaluation of bariatric surgery
for metabolic disorders.
Pournaras DJ, Aasheim ET, Søvik TT, Andrews R, Mahon D, Welbourn R, Olbers T, le
Roux CW.
Br J Surg. 2012 Jan;99(1):100-3. doi: 10.1002/bjs.7704. Epub 2011 Oct 21.
PMID: 22021090
25. Short-term psychological outcomes in severely obese adolescents after bariatric surgery.
Järvholm K, Olbers T, Marcus C, Mårild S, Gronowitz E, Friberg P, Johnsson P, Flodmark
CE.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2012 Feb;20(2):318-23. doi: 10.1038/oby.2011.310. Epub 2011 Oct
13.
PMID: 21996668
24. 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 Sep 6;155(5):281-91.
PMID: 21893621
23. Gastric bypass reduces fat intake and preference.
le Roux CW, Bueter M, Theis N, Werling M, Ashrafian H, Löwenstein C, Athanasiou T,
Bloom SR, Spector AC, Olbers T, Lutz TA.
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011 Oct;301(4):R1057-66. Epub 2011 Jul
PMID: 21734019
22. Effect of bariatric surgery on sulphur amino acids and glutamate.
Aasheim ET, Elshorbagy AK, Diep LM, Søvik TT, Mala T, Valdivia-Garcia M, Olbers T,
Bøhmer T, Birkeland KI, Refsum H.
Br J Nutr. 2011 Aug;106(3):432-40. Epub 2011 May 4.
PMID: 21554803
21. Changes in the mucosa of the Roux-limb after gastric bypass surgery.
Spak E, Björklund P, Helander HF, Vieth M, Olbers T, Casselbrant A, Lönroth H, Fändriks
L.
Histopathology. 2010 Nov;57(5):680-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2010.03677.x. Epub 2010
Nov 3.
PMID: 21054493
20. Feasibility of bariatric surgery as a strategy for secondary prevention in cardiovascular
disease: a report from the Swedish obese subjects trial.
Delling L, Karason K, Olbers T, Sjöström D, Wahlstrand B, Carlsson B, Carlsson L, Narbro
K, Karlsson J, Behre CJ, Sjöström L, Stenlöf K.
J Obes. 2010;2010. pii: 102341. Epub 2010 Aug 12.
PMID: 20847932
19. Laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y
gastric bypass for super-obesity-weight loss versus side effects.
Laurenius A, Taha O, Maleckas A, Lönroth H, Olbers T.
Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2010 Jul-Aug;6(4):408-14. Epub 2010 Apr 8.
PMID: 20655023
18. Is the Roux limb a determinant for meal size after gastric bypass surgery?
Björklund P, Laurenius A, Een E, Olbers T, Lönroth H, Fändriks L.
Obes Surg. 2010 Oct;20(10):1408-14.
PMID: 20517654
17. Vagal sparing surgical technique but not stoma size affects body weight loss in rodent
model of gastric bypass.
Bueter M, Löwenstein C, Ashrafian H, Hillebrand J, Bloom SR, Olbers T, Lutz T, le Roux
CW.
Obes Surg. 2010 May;20(5):616-22. Epub 2010 Jan 30.
PMID: 20119735
16. Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic gastric bypass versus laparoscopic duodenal
switch for superobesity.
Søvik TT, Taha O, Aasheim ET, Engström M, Kristinsson J, Björkman S, Schou CF,
Lönroth H, Mala T, Olbers T.
Br J Surg. 2010 Feb;97(2):160-6.
PMID: 20035530
15. Gastric bypass increases energy expenditure in rats.
Bueter M, Löwenstein C, Olbers T, Wang M, Cluny NL, Bloom SR, Sharkey KA, Lutz TA,
le Roux CW.
Gastroenterology. 2010 May;138(5):1845-53. Epub 2009 Nov 18.
PMID:19931268
14. Effects of bariatric surgery on cancer incidence in obese patients in Sweden (Swedish
Obese Subjects Study): a prospective, controlled intervention trial.
Sjöström L, Gummesson A, Sjöström CD, Narbro K, Peltonen M, Wedel H, Bengtsson C,
Bouchard C, Carlsson B, Dahlgren S, Jacobson P, Karason K, Karlsson J, Larsson B,
Lindroos AK, Lönroth H, Näslund I, Olbers T, Stenlöf K, Torgerson J, Carlsson LM;
Swedish Obese Subjects Study.
Lancet Oncol. 2009 Jul;10(7):653-62. Epub 2009 Jun 24.
PMID: 19556163
13. Patients' experience of surplus skin after laparoscopic gastric bypass.
Biörserud C, Olbers T, Fagevik Olsén M.
Obes Surg. 2011 Mar;21(3):273-7. Epub 2009 May 20.
PMID:19455374
12. Vitamin status after bariatric surgery: a randomized study of gastric bypass and duodenal
switch.
Aasheim ET, Björkman S, Søvik TT, Engström M, Hanvold SE, Mala T, Olbers T, Bøhmer
T.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jul;90(1):15-22. Epub 2009 May 13. Erratum in: Am J Clin Nutr.
2010 Jan;91(1):239-40.
PMID:19439456
11. Patulous eustachian tube complicating gastric bypass surgery.
Alhammadi M, Jönsson R, Olbers T, Yassin O.
J Laryngol Otol. 2009 Sep;123(9):1058-60. Epub 2008 Dec 23.
PMID: 19102815
10. Angiotensin II-induced contractions in human jejunal wall musculature in vitro.
Spak E, Casselbrant A, Olbers T, Lönroth H, Fändriks L.
Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2008 Jun;193(2):181-90. Epub 2007 Dec 10.
PMID:18081740
9. 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.
PMID:17968169
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.
PMID:17715408
7. 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.
PMID: 17060764
6. Angiotensin II induced contraction of rat and human small intestinal wall musculature in
vitro.
Ewert S, Spak E, Olbers T, Johnsson E, Edebo A, Fändriks L.
Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2006 Sep;188(1):33-40.
PMID: 16911251
5. Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus laparoscopic
vertical banded gastroplasty for obesity.
Olbers T, Fagevik-Olsén M, Maleckas A, Lönroth H.
Br J Surg. 2005 May;92(5):557-62.
PMID:15810049
4. Laparoscopic gastric bypass: development of technique, respiratory function, and longterm outcome.
Olbers T, Lönroth H, Fagevik-Olsén M, Lundell L.
Obes Surg. 2003 Jun;13(3):364-70.
PMID:12841895
3. High expression of complement components in omental adipose tissue in obese men.
Gabrielsson BG, Johansson JM, Lönn M, Jernås M, Olbers T, Peltonen M, Larsson I, Lönn
L, Sjöström L, Carlsson B, Carlsson LM.
Obes Res. 2003 Jun;11(6):699-708.
PMID: 12805391
2. Depot-specific expression of fibroblast growth factors in human adipose tissue.
Gabrielsson BG, Johansson JM, Jennische E, Jernås M, Itoh Y, Peltonen M, Olbers T, Lönn
L, Lönroth H, Sjöström L, Carlsson B, Carlsson LM, Lönn M.
Obes Res. 2002 Jul;10(7):608-16.
PMID: 12105282
1. Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty--an effective long-term therapy for morbidly
obese patients?
Olbers T, Lönroth H, Dalenbäck J, Haglind E, Lundell L.
Obes Surg. 2001 Dec;11(6):726-30.
PMID:11775570
Book chapters:
Atlas of Bariatric and Metabolic surgery, 2010, Editor : Dan B Jones MD, Co-editors:
Torsten Olbers, MD, PhD, Ben Schneider, MD
Kirurgi 2008 (editors: Jeppsson, Naredi, Nordenström, Risbeg)
in Swedish. Chapter on Minimal invasive surgery