What Exactly Do Bariatric Physicians Do?
Bariatric physicians are doctors that specialize in helping overweight and obese patients to not only lose weight but to keep it off. These doctors will examine and evaluate their patients to locate the cause of obesity. The cause may be an illness or a disease that the patient never knew they had! The doctor will then formulate a detailed dietary and fitness plan for the patient to follow. These doctors can also determine if the patient needs behavioral therapy, or can prescribe medications to help reduce the weight and keep it off.
Bariatric physicians can also perform bariatric surgeries. These types of bariatric physicians are also known as bariatric surgeons. This branch of doctors performs surgeries aimed at reducing weight, such as different types of gastric bypass surgeries. Surgery will typically be a last resort after everything else has failed, or if it is the only way to reduce the weight and keep it off. Surgery comes with its own risks but these risks are minimal compared to the risks associated with obesity.
Obesity is generally measured by a body mass index. Those who have a body mass index of 40 or higher are considered obese. However, one can qualify as being obese with a body mass index of 35-40 if there are current health issues due to the extra weight. Although bariatric physicians typically work with obesity, they can work with patients who are just simply overweight as well and want a healthier lifestyle. It never hurts to lose the extra weight.
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