Join us for our Pre-Congress Courses and delve into the latest advancements in the field.
These courses offer valuable insights and practical guidance
that will enhance your practice and improve patient outcomes.
Pre-registration is required, and seats are limited – Secure your spot today!
If you have already registered for the Congress and would like to register for the courses as well: reg_ifsoec26@kenes.com
Date
6 May, 2026
Time
08:30 - 16:00
MBS Starts Orally – Bariatric Endoscopy
Christine Stier
Director
Amador García Ruiz de Gorduela
Co- Director
Location: Off-Site
**Address will be published in due course
Hands-on – Endoscopic MBS
The Pre-Congress Endoscopy Course at the IFSO European Chapter Congress in Málaga is designed to deliver focused, high-quality training in endoscopic practice, tailored to the needs of bariatric and metabolic clinicians.
The course combines expert-led teaching with practical, hands-on learning to strengthen core endoscopic skills and clinical decision-making. Participants will refine scope handling, visualisation techniques, and procedural flow, while gaining insight into best practices for safety, quality assurance, and complication management. Teaching is delivered in small groups, allowing for personalised feedback and meaningful skill development.
With a strong emphasis on real-world application, the course supports both trainees and experienced clinicians seeking to enhance confidence, precision, and performance in endoscopy. Particular attention is given to the role of endoscopy within bariatric practice, including complication management and primary bariatric endoluminal procedures, providing an ideal foundation ahead of the main scientific meeting.
This course offers an excellent opportunity to develop practical expertise in a structured, supportive environment and to begin the IFSO European Chapter Congress with skills that translate directly into improved patient care.
Robariatrics: Enhancing Skills and Standarization
Ricardo Zorron
Director
Beniamino Pascotto
Co - Director
Location: Off-Site
**Address will be published in due course
Hands-on – Robotic MBS
The IFSO EC 2026 Congress in Malaga will provide a great opportunity to participate in a pre-congress course on robotic metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), ideal for surgeons seeking to introduce robotics into their practice. The course will offer participants a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge of cutting-edge robotic platforms available nowadays in Europe. Expert robotic surgeons from different countries will show the participants how to best use these platforms in MBS. Hands-on training and interactive discussions are a crucial part of this course, and topics will include, for example, robotic system setup, advanced surgical maneuvers, and patient selection criteria.
Lifespan after MBS: A Multidisciplinary, Patient-Centererd Approach
Violeta Moizé
Director
Location: Hotel NH Málaga
Workshop 1: Physical Activity Workshop
8:30 – 10:30
This workshop addresses the prescription of physical activity before and after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). It includes individualized exercise recommendations, strategies to enhance strength and preserve lean mass, safe progression guidelines, and coordination with nutritional management. Emphasis is placed on optimizing protein and energy intake alongside training to maintain functionality and maximize clinical outcomes.
Workshop 2: Culinary Medicine Workshop
11:00 – 13:00
This highly experiential workshop focuses on translating nutritional science into real-world cooking. Participants will explore culinary techniques, diet quality, food environment organization, and practical strategies to improve dietary adherence and metabolic health in individuals with obesity and those undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). The session is designed for multidisciplinary clinical teams interested in integrating culinary education as a therapeutic tool in obesity care.
Workshop 3: Morphofunctional Assessment Workshop
14:00 – 16:00
This workshop provides a practical, evidence-based update on morphofunctional assessment in patients with obesity and metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). Participants will review advanced methods to evaluate body composition, energy expenditure, muscle function, and cardiometabolic parameters, with direct application to clinical decision-making and longitudinal follow-up in precision obesity care.
OAGB and SADI-S One-Loop Surgery from Concept to Long-Term Care
Chetan Parmar
Director
Andrés Sánchez-Pernaute
Co - Director
Location: Hotel NH Málaga
OAGB and SADI-S One-Loop Surgery from Concept to Long-Term Care
One Anastomosis Surgery: From concept to long-term care. Know all about physiology, techniques, tips and tricks, challenges, solutions, and future of OAGB and SADI-S from esteemed global speakers.
SECO Course
Luis Ocaña
Director
Location: Hotel NH Málaga
Spanish version to follow / Versión en español a continuación
At “SECO DAY”, we aim to offer the broadest possible perspective on topics of interest related to surgery and other therapies for obesity. We will discuss with national experts the issues related to obesity and women, oncology, and mental health. A second session, presented in an engaging video forum format, will explore aspects related to surgical technique, complications, and innovation in surgery. Finally, we will recognize our honorary associates and our honorary members of SECO and enjoy a presentation by them.
“Women, Oncology, Mental Health.” In this first session, we will address how obesity affects women from three different perspectives: Fertility, Pregnancy, and Gynecological Oncology. We will complete the discussion by analyzing the influence of obesity on Oncology in general, as well as the relationship between obesity and Mental Health.
“Surgical Technique, Complications, Innovation. Video Forum.” In this second session, we will focus, through the stimulating and educational insights and explanations provided by expert videos, on the details of surgical techniques, emphasizing reflux prevention, as well as the management and prehabilitation of complex abdominal walls in patients with severe obesity. We will continue with an examination of the acute and chronic complications of the main surgical techniques and how to prevent them, concluding with a discussion of the main aspects related to innovation in both minimally invasive and robotic surgery.
“Appointment of Honorary Members.” We will conclude “SECO DAY” with the appointment of our SECO honorary associates, recognizing their professional and scientific contributions within the society. We will also recognize our new honorary member for their outstanding research career in the field of severe obesity. Finally, we will enjoy a presentation by them on the field of metabolic surgery.
__________________________________________________
En el SECO DAY queremos ofrecer una visión lo más amplia posible a temas de interés en relación a la cirugía y otras terapias para la obesidad. Así, debatiremos con expertos nacionales los problemas relacionados con la obesidad y la mujer, la oncología y la salud mental. Un segundo bloque, con el atractivo de un formato video-forum, acercará aspectos relacionados con la técnica quirúrgica, las complicaciones y la innovación en cirugía. Finalmente reconoceremos a nuestros socios de honor y a nuestro miembro de honor de SECO y disfrutaremos de una conferencia por su parte.
“Mujer, Oncología, Salud Mental”. En esta primera sesión abordaremos tres aspectos fundamentales que relacionan a la mujer y a la obesidad, como son la Fertilidad, el Embarazo y la Oncología Ginecológica. Completaremos el debate analizando la influencia de la obesidad en la Oncología en general, así cómo se relacionan la obesidad y la Salud Mental.
“Técnica Quirúrgica, Complicaciones, Innovación. Video Forum”. En esta segunda sesión nos centraremos, mediante la estimulante y docente visión y explicaciones de los videos de los expertos, en los detalles de las técnicas quirúrgicas, centrados en la prevención del reflujo, así como el manejo y la prehabilitación de la pared compleja en pacientes con obesidad severa. Seguiremos con el abordaje de las complicaciones agudas y crónicas de las principales técnicas quirúrgicas y cómo prevenrlas, para terminar con el debate de los principales aspectos relacionados con la innovación, tanto en cirugía minimamente invasiva como en cirugía robótica.
“Nombramiento de miembros de Honor”. Concluiremos “SECO DAY” con el nombramiento de nuestros socios de honor de SECO, distinguiendo su trayectoria profesional y científica dentro de la sociedad. Y también de nuestro miembro de honor, en reconocimiento a su brillante trayectoria investigadora en el campo de la obesidad severa. Disfrutaremos, para concluir, de una ponencia por su parte en el campo de la cirugía metabólica.
Christine Stier
Director
Amador García Ruiz de Gorduela
Co- Director
Location: Off-Site
**Address will be published in due course
Hands-on – Endoscopic MBS
The Pre-Congress Endoscopy Course at the IFSO European Chapter Congress in Málaga is designed to deliver focused, high-quality training in endoscopic practice, tailored to the needs of bariatric and metabolic clinicians.
The course combines expert-led teaching with practical, hands-on learning to strengthen core endoscopic skills and clinical decision-making. Participants will refine scope handling, visualisation techniques, and procedural flow, while gaining insight into best practices for safety, quality assurance, and complication management. Teaching is delivered in small groups, allowing for personalised feedback and meaningful skill development.
With a strong emphasis on real-world application, the course supports both trainees and experienced clinicians seeking to enhance confidence, precision, and performance in endoscopy. Particular attention is given to the role of endoscopy within bariatric practice, including complication management and primary bariatric endoluminal procedures, providing an ideal foundation ahead of the main scientific meeting.
This course offers an excellent opportunity to develop practical expertise in a structured, supportive environment and to begin the IFSO European Chapter Congress with skills that translate directly into improved patient care.
Ricardo Zorron
Director
Beniamino Pascotto
Co - Director
Location: Off-Site
**Address will be published in due course
Hands-on – Robotic MBS
The IFSO EC 2026 Congress in Malaga will provide a great opportunity to participate in a pre-congress course on robotic metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), ideal for surgeons seeking to introduce robotics into their practice. The course will offer participants a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge of cutting-edge robotic platforms available nowadays in Europe. Expert robotic surgeons from different countries will show the participants how to best use these platforms in MBS. Hands-on training and interactive discussions are a crucial part of this course, and topics will include, for example, robotic system setup, advanced surgical maneuvers, and patient selection criteria.
Violeta Moizé
Director
Location: Hotel NH Málaga
Workshop 1: Physical Activity Workshop
8:30 – 10:30
This workshop addresses the prescription of physical activity before and after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). It includes individualized exercise recommendations, strategies to enhance strength and preserve lean mass, safe progression guidelines, and coordination with nutritional management. Emphasis is placed on optimizing protein and energy intake alongside training to maintain functionality and maximize clinical outcomes.
Workshop 2: Culinary Medicine Workshop
11:00 – 13:00
This highly experiential workshop focuses on translating nutritional science into real-world cooking. Participants will explore culinary techniques, diet quality, food environment organization, and practical strategies to improve dietary adherence and metabolic health in individuals with obesity and those undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). The session is designed for multidisciplinary clinical teams interested in integrating culinary education as a therapeutic tool in obesity care.
Workshop 3: Morphofunctional Assessment Workshop
14:00 – 16:00
This workshop provides a practical, evidence-based update on morphofunctional assessment in patients with obesity and metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). Participants will review advanced methods to evaluate body composition, energy expenditure, muscle function, and cardiometabolic parameters, with direct application to clinical decision-making and longitudinal follow-up in precision obesity care.
Chetan Parmar
Director
Andrés Sánchez-Pernaute
Co - Director
Location: Hotel NH Málaga
OAGB and SADI-S One-Loop Surgery from Concept to Long-Term Care
One Anastomosis Surgery: From concept to long-term care. Know all about physiology, techniques, tips and tricks, challenges, solutions, and future of OAGB and SADI-S from esteemed global speakers.
Luis Ocaña
Director
Location: Hotel NH Málaga
Spanish version to follow / Versión en español a continuación
At “SECO DAY”, we aim to offer the broadest possible perspective on topics of interest related to surgery and other therapies for obesity. We will discuss with national experts the issues related to obesity and women, oncology, and mental health. A second session, presented in an engaging video forum format, will explore aspects related to surgical technique, complications, and innovation in surgery. Finally, we will recognize our honorary associates and our honorary members of SECO and enjoy a presentation by them.
“Women, Oncology, Mental Health.” In this first session, we will address how obesity affects women from three different perspectives: Fertility, Pregnancy, and Gynecological Oncology. We will complete the discussion by analyzing the influence of obesity on Oncology in general, as well as the relationship between obesity and Mental Health.
“Surgical Technique, Complications, Innovation. Video Forum.” In this second session, we will focus, through the stimulating and educational insights and explanations provided by expert videos, on the details of surgical techniques, emphasizing reflux prevention, as well as the management and prehabilitation of complex abdominal walls in patients with severe obesity. We will continue with an examination of the acute and chronic complications of the main surgical techniques and how to prevent them, concluding with a discussion of the main aspects related to innovation in both minimally invasive and robotic surgery.
“Appointment of Honorary Members.” We will conclude “SECO DAY” with the appointment of our SECO honorary associates, recognizing their professional and scientific contributions within the society. We will also recognize our new honorary member for their outstanding research career in the field of severe obesity. Finally, we will enjoy a presentation by them on the field of metabolic surgery.
__________________________________________________
En el SECO DAY queremos ofrecer una visión lo más amplia posible a temas de interés en relación a la cirugía y otras terapias para la obesidad. Así, debatiremos con expertos nacionales los problemas relacionados con la obesidad y la mujer, la oncología y la salud mental. Un segundo bloque, con el atractivo de un formato video-forum, acercará aspectos relacionados con la técnica quirúrgica, las complicaciones y la innovación en cirugía. Finalmente reconoceremos a nuestros socios de honor y a nuestro miembro de honor de SECO y disfrutaremos de una conferencia por su parte.
“Mujer, Oncología, Salud Mental”. En esta primera sesión abordaremos tres aspectos fundamentales que relacionan a la mujer y a la obesidad, como son la Fertilidad, el Embarazo y la Oncología Ginecológica. Completaremos el debate analizando la influencia de la obesidad en la Oncología en general, así cómo se relacionan la obesidad y la Salud Mental.
“Técnica Quirúrgica, Complicaciones, Innovación. Video Forum”. En esta segunda sesión nos centraremos, mediante la estimulante y docente visión y explicaciones de los videos de los expertos, en los detalles de las técnicas quirúrgicas, centrados en la prevención del reflujo, así como el manejo y la prehabilitación de la pared compleja en pacientes con obesidad severa. Seguiremos con el abordaje de las complicaciones agudas y crónicas de las principales técnicas quirúrgicas y cómo prevenrlas, para terminar con el debate de los principales aspectos relacionados con la innovación, tanto en cirugía minimamente invasiva como en cirugía robótica.
“Nombramiento de miembros de Honor”. Concluiremos “SECO DAY” con el nombramiento de nuestros socios de honor de SECO, distinguiendo su trayectoria profesional y científica dentro de la sociedad. Y también de nuestro miembro de honor, en reconocimiento a su brillante trayectoria investigadora en el campo de la obesidad severa. Disfrutaremos, para concluir, de una ponencia por su parte en el campo de la cirugía metabólica.