Definition

Bariatric surgeries are surgical procedures performed to treat obesity by modifying the gastrointestinal system to restrict food consumption and/or inhibit nutrient absorption.

Obesity refers to a health condition in which a person has an abnormally high proportion of body fat. An estimated 61.3 million American adults (30.5 percent) are obese. Severe obesity is also on the rise. An estimated 9.6 million adults have a body mass index (BMI) of 35-40, while six million American adults are morbidly obese (BMI 40 or greater) [2].