All abstracts submitted to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) will undergo peer review and may be accepted for oral, video, or poster presentation at the ASMBS Annual Meeting 2027.

In-person presentation is required for all accepted abstracts. Presenting authors are responsible for registering for the Annual Meeting and paying all applicable registration and travel expenses.

Accepted abstracts will be published in Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD), the official journal of ASMBS. Authors should therefore prepare abstracts according to accepted standards for scientific reporting and publication.

The theme of the ASMBS Annual Meeting 2027 is “Elevating Our Future, Enhancing Our Specialty.”

Key Dates
● Submission Window: September 3, 2026–January 11, 2027
● Submission Deadline: January 11, 2027
● Notification of Acceptance: March 1, 2027
● Annual Meeting: June 27–July 1, 2027

The submission deadline is a hard deadline. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all required information, including author disclosures, is complete before the submission
deadline.

A scientific abstract is a concise and accurate summary of original research or scholarly work. Abstracts should provide sufficient information for reviewers to evaluate the scientific quality, methodology, results, relevance, and conclusions of the work.

Required Abstract Structure:

Hypothesis
Clearly state the research question, study objective, or hypothesis being tested. The hypothesis should be specific and directly related to the outcomes evaluated in the study.
Methods
Describe the study design, setting, population, interventions or exposures, outcomes, and statistical methods, as applicable.
Results
Report the principal findings of the study. Results should include relevant quantitative data and statistical findings when applicable. Statements such as “results will be presented” are not acceptable.
Conclusion
State the conclusions supported directly by the results. Conclusions should not overstate the findings or introduce information that is not presented in the abstract.
Word Limit
Abstract text is limited to 250 words maximum.

Originality
Abstracts must represent original scholarly work.

The submitting author is responsible for ensuring that the abstract accurately represents the work conducted and that all listed authors meet appropriate authorship criteria and have approved the submission.

Complete Results Required
Abstracts must contain sufficient results to support the stated conclusions. Abstracts describing planned research, incomplete analyses, or studies for which results are not yet available may not be considered.

Authorship
All individuals listed as authors should have made substantive contributions to the work and should meet generally accepted standards for authorship.

Authors may not be added or removed after the abstract submission deadline.

Authors should verify names, credentials, institutional affiliations, and author order
before final submission.

Person-First and Inclusive Language
Person-first language is required throughout the abstract. For example, use “people with obesity” or “patients with obesity” rather than “obese patients.”

Authors should use respectful, inclusive, and scientifically appropriate terminology.

Generic Terminology
Trade names, brand names, and promotional terminology may not be used in the abstract title or body.

Generic names should be used for medications, devices, products, and procedures whenever applicable.

Funding and Commercial Support
Authors must accurately identify applicable sources of funding or other support associated with the research.

Abstracts and presentations must remain scientifically objective and must not promote a commercial product, service, or company.

Authors should follow recognized reporting standards appropriate to the study design when preparing their abstract and subsequent manuscript.

Examples include:

● Randomized controlled trials: CONSORT
● Observational studies: STROBE
● Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: PRISMA
● Diagnostic accuracy studies: STARD
● Case reports: CARE
● Quality improvement studies: SQUIRE

Authors are responsible for selecting and following the reporting guideline appropriate to their study design.

For metabolic and bariatric surgery research, authors should also follow applicable ASMBS standards and accepted terminology for reporting bariatric surgery procedures and outcomes.

Clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible clinical trial registry recognized by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), such as ClinicalTrials.gov or an appropriate international equivalent.

Registration should occur at or before the onset of participant enrollment.

For abstracts reporting a registered clinical trial, authors must provide:
● Registry name
● Clinical trial registration number
● Registration information as requested during abstract submission

The trial registration number should also be included in any subsequent manuscript submitted for publication in SOARD in accordance with the journal's requirements. Failure to appropriately register a clinical trial may affect eligibility for subsequent publication.

All authors must disclose relevant financial relationships in accordance with ASMBS continuing education and conflict-of-interest requirements.
● Required disclosures must be completed by the stated deadline.
● Abstracts with incomplete required disclosures will not be considered.
● ASMBS staff will review disclosures for relevant financial relationships and potential conflicts of interest.
● Authors will be contacted if additional information or mitigation is required.

Disclosure of a financial relationship does not automatically disqualify an abstract. ASMBS will evaluate relevant relationships in accordance with applicable accreditation and conflict-of-interest requirements.

Abstracts submitted to ASMBS may not be submitted to or presented at another scientific meeting while the abstract is under consideration by ASMBS.

Abstracts previously presented at a major national or international scientific meeting are not eligible for submission.

If an accepted abstract is subsequently presented at another national meeting or published before the ASMBS Annual Meeting without an approved exception, the abstract may be disqualified.

Authors should promptly notify ASMBS of any change in the publication or presentation status of submitted work.

Violation of ASMBS abstract publication or presentation policies may result in restrictions on future abstract submissions for up to three years.

Publication of a complete manuscript following presentation of preliminary findings as an abstract does not, by itself, constitute duplicate publication; however, authors are responsible for complying with the publication policies of SOARD or any other journal to which a manuscript is submitted.

At least one author of every accepted abstract must attend the ASMBS Annual Meeting and present the work in person at the assigned date and time. If the designated presenting author becomes unable to attend, another eligible author should be identified and ASMBS must be notified as soon as possible.

Failure to present an accepted abstract without an approved exception may result in the presenting author being ineligible to submit abstracts to the ASMBS Annual Meeting for two years.

A written abstract meeting the applicable ASMBS abstract requirements must accompany every video submission.

Technical Requirements
● Maximum video length: 7 minutes
● Maximum file size: 300 MB
● Narration is required.
● Background music is not permitted.
● Generic terminology must be used.
● Videos may not contain promotional content or evidence of commercial influence.

Recommended Video Structure
Videos should include, as applicable:
1. Video title
2. Author disclosure
3. Clinical presentation and indication for surgery
4. Relevant preoperative imaging and/or endoscopy
5. Operative procedure, including:

• Trocar placement
• Dissection
• Resection
• Reconstruction

6. Postoperative imaging or findings, when applicable
7. Postoperative course and 30-day outcome
8. Conclusion and key learning points

Patient-identifying information must not appear in submitted videos. Authors are responsible for obtaining all necessary institutional approvals and patient permissions or consent when identifiable patient information, images, or recordings are used.

Video Originality and Presentation
Videos previously presented at a major national meeting or previously published are not eligible.

Videos submitted to ASMBS may not be submitted to or presented at another meeting while under consideration by ASMBS.

Failure to present an accepted video without an approved exception may result in the presenting author being ineligible to submit video abstracts for two years.

Submission to Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD)

A full manuscript submission to SOARD is required when:
● An abstract is selected for presentation in the Top Papers I or Top Papers II Session; or
● An eligible abstract is selected for consideration for the John Halverson Young Investigator Award, as designated by ASMBS.

Authors will be notified if their abstract requires manuscript submission and will receive the applicable manuscript deadline and submission instructions.

Manuscripts must comply with the current SOARD Guide for Authors in effect at the time of manuscript submission.

Consequences for Noncompliance
Failure to meet a required manuscript submission deadline may result in a two-year prohibition from presenting at the ASMBS Annual Meeting.

Failure to submit a required Top Paper manuscript may result in a three-year prohibition from submitting abstracts to the ASMBS Annual Meeting.

Authors who believe they cannot meet a manuscript submission requirement should contact ASMBS before the applicable deadline.

Authors required to submit a manuscript to SOARD may request an exemption in advance when they intend to submit the work to a broader, higher-impact medical or non-surgical journal.

Examples may include journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM),
JAMA, The Lancet, or Diabetes.

Exemptions are not generally granted for submission to another surgical journal.

Requests must:
● Be submitted in advance;
● Identify the intended journal;
● Include the rationale for requesting the exemption; and
● Receive approval from the ASMBS Program Committee or its designee.

Authors requesting an exemption will be required to attest:
“I am requesting an exemption from submitting this manuscript to SOARD because I believe the study is more appropriate for a higher-impact, non-surgical journal with broader reach.”

Submission of an exemption request does not constitute approval. Authors remain subject to the SOARD manuscript requirement unless and until ASMBS approves the exemption.

John Halverson Young Investigator Award

The John Halverson Young Investigator Award recognizes outstanding research and presentation by an eligible early-career investigator.

Eligibility: The first author must be a medical student, resident, or fellow.

Eligible abstracts will be evaluated based on scientific merit and presentation. A manuscript submission to SOARD is required for abstracts selected for award consideration.

Award: Monetary award and plaque

The winner is determined by the ASMBS Program Committee or designated reviewers.

Integrated Health Awards
The eight highest-rated Integrated Health abstracts will be selected to compete in the Integrated Health Top Oral Session. Winners are determined by the designated session directors or judging panel.

First- and second-place awards will be presented.

Awards: Certificate and monetary prize.

International Abstract Awards
Two International Abstract Awards will recognize highly rated abstracts with eligible first authors residing in qualifying countries as defined by ASMBS award criteria.

Recipients will be selected based on rankings from the designated International Award
Committee reviewers.

Awards: Monetary award provided by IFSO and ASMBS and a plaque.

By submitting an abstract, the submitting author confirms that:
● The information provided is accurate and complete.
● All authors have reviewed and approved the submission.
● All authors meet appropriate authorship criteria.
● Required financial disclosures have been completed.
● The work complies with applicable institutional, ethical, and regulatory requirements.
● Required clinical trial registration has been completed when applicable.
● The abstract complies with ASMBS originality, prior-presentation, and embargo requirements.
● The authors agree to comply with applicable manuscript submission requirements if the abstract is selected for a category requiring submission to SOARD. ASMBS reserves the right to withdraw an abstract that does not comply with these requirements.

For questions regarding ASMBS Abstract Policies, contact abstracts@asmbs.org.