The paper evaluates the results of vertical gastroplasty in the treatment of morbid obesity. A series of 34 patients (24 F and 10 M) with the following characteristics was included in the study: mean age 41 years, preoperative weight 141 kg, % of ideal weight 204%, BMI 49; mean follow-up was 35 months. Postoperative mortality was zero and there were reduced early and long-term complications. Mean weight loss, expressed as a percentage of overweight, at 6 months was 48.5%, 56.8% at 12 months, 63.4% at 24 months and 67.2% at 36 months. The authors conclude that, given the low incidence of complications and the satisfactory weight loss which was maintained long after the operation, vertical gastroplasty appears to be the preferred operation, since it represents a safe and effective method of treating pathological obesity.