The four investigative groups initiated their individual RCT's at their respective sites to evaluate the effectiveness of bariatric surgery compared to multidisciplinary medical and lifestyle management of diabetes and body weight. The original trials were each designed to assess feasibility over a relatively short duration of follow-up (1-3 years). Individually, each trial lacked the sample size and duration of follow-up to meaningfully inform clinical decision making. Together, with the funding provided by the NIH for longer follow-up, the Consortium trial can provide a unique national resource to address timely and unanswered clinical questions related to the durability of these alternative management approaches in patients with T2D and obesity. Together, participants from these studies represent the largest cohort with diabetes (one third having a BMI \<35 kg/m2) ever to undergo randomized assignment to bariatric surgical procedure vs. medical/lifestyle intervention.
