What is a Bariatric / Weight Loss Specialist?

About Bariatric / Weight Loss Specialists

Bariatric doctors provide diagnosis and treatment of obesity and weight loss. This specialty can include the usage of weight loss surgery and procedures such as bariatric surgery, gastric bypass surgery, gastrectomy, and gastric banding.

Physicians specializing in bariatric medicine may also consult and work alongside Family Doctors / General Practitioners, Endocrinologists, Gastroenterologists, and Cardiologists depending on the cause of illness and related areas of the body affecting the patient’s health.

Bariatric medicine and treatment of obesity are also preventative in regards to the effects on one’s overall health as a result of being overweight, which can include serious conditions such as coronary heart disease, development of diabetes, and occurrence of high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Obese or overweight patients can be classified as those with a high body mass index (BMI), which is the calculation of a person’s height and weight.

While bariatric doctors treat the physical side of obesity and its related effects on the human body, they also employ preventative methods that include diet and exercise strategies and forms of counseling and therapy to assess and treat underlying issues related to the patient’s current health status.

Bariatric surgery is the last port of call in weight loss treatment and is only a course of action if other medically supervised treatments are not successful. Surgery can involve different types of procedures that include reducing the size of a patient’s stomach or other areas of the digestive tract.

Useful Resources

Canada

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

British Columbia

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Ontario

Quebec

Newfoundland and Labrador

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia