bariatrics

Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.^[1] The term bariatrics was created around 1965,^[2] from the Greek root bar- ("weight," as in barometer), suffix -iatr ("treatment," as in pediatrics), and suffix -ic ("pertaining to"). The field encompasses dieting, exercise and behavioral therapy approaches to weight loss, as well as pharmacotherapy and surgery.

Overweight and obesity are rising medical problems of pandemic proportions.^[3][4] There are many detrimental health effects of obesity:^[5][6] Individuals with a BMI (Body Mass Index) exceeding a healthy range have a much greater risk of medical issues.^[7] These include heart disease, diabetes, many types of cancer, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic musculoskeletal problems. There is also an effect of obesity on mortality.^[8]

People may find it difficult to lose weight on their own.^[9] It is common for dieters to have tried fad diets only to find that they gain weight, or return to their original weight, after ceasing the diet.^[10]

Although diet, exercise, behavior therapy and anti-obesity drugs are first-line treatment,^[11] medical therapy for severe obesity has limited short-term success and very poor long-term success.^[12] Weight loss surgery generally results in greater weight loss than conventional treatment, and leads to improvements in quality of life and obesity related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.^[13] The combination of approaches used may be tailored to each patient.^[14]

References

External links

• VIDEO: How Bariatrics Has Changed Our Understanding of Type II Diabetes Dr. Daniel McKenna speaks at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 2008.
• MedLinePlus Portal on Weight Loss Surgery