About Us

Bariatric Surgery Source helps current and prospective weight loss surgery patients understand, set, achieve and maintain bariatric-surgery-related health and weight goals.

We understand that you are making or have made a serious, life-changing decision. To succeed, you need thorough and accurate information that applies to your situation.  

Through the guidance of our Advisory Council, Bariatric Surgery Source will arm you with the most extensively researched, unbiased and up-to-date information and recommendations relating to every aspect of obesity and bariatric surgery.  

We are your complete guide to the new you.

Click here to learn about the team behind Bariatric Surgery Source.

More About Why We Exist

Bariatric surgery is one of the most important treatments developed over the last 40 years, not only because of the health problems it improves or eliminates but also because of the number of people it has the potential to help. 

One in three (75 million) adults and about 1 in 5 (16 million) adolescents in the United States are considered obese.^1,2  Weight loss surgery has been proven to help numerous life-threatening and debilitating physical and mental health issues that these people face, including…

• Arthritis and joint disease
• Asthma
• Cardiovascular disease
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Depression

• Dermatitis
• Diabetes
• Fertility and pregnancy complications
• Gallbladder disease
• Gout

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Liver disease
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Pseudotumors
• Quality of life
• Sleep apnea
• Stress urinary incontinence
• Vein disease

To top off the list, morbidly obese patients who have bariatric surgery are 89% less likely to die over any 5 year period than morbidly obese patients who don’t have the surgery.³

Despite the problems it fixes and number of people it can help, only a small percentage of people who meet the bariatric surgery patient requirements have the surgery each year. 

Those who have learned the benefits and are interested in having the surgery face a mountain of road blocks, such as… 

• Distinguishing between weight loss treatment advertising and credible information
• Getting surgery approved and paid for
• Finding the right qualified and experienced surgeon
• Overcoming the cultural and social challenges that can prevent success 

Bariatric Surgery Source was created to both increase awareness of this life-changing surgery and to provide a single place where prospective and current weight loss surgery patients can…

• Explore information and get recommendations that are based entirely on the research.
• Share experiences and read experiences from others who are going through the same thing.
• Get information and referrals to resources that help set goals, reach them and stay there.
• Receive important and applicable updates as new research becomes available.

Regardless of what stage you're in, we are here for you, and we look forward to being your complete guide to the new you. 

Start your research by following one of these links...

• Research on obesity, including the cause and effect of obesity and how they apply to you
• Determining whether bariatric treatment is appropriate for you
• Understanding, comparing and choosing the types of bariatric surgery that you should consider
• Navigating the bariatric surgery insurance maze and getting it approved
• Exploring options for financing bariatric surgery if your insurance doesn’t cover it or if you need assistance paying your plan's deductibles or co-pays
• Finding, interviewing and choosing the right bariatric doctors and bariatric weight loss center
• Learning the appropriate bariatric diet and exercise for bariatric surgery patients after surgery
• Selecting and using in-person weight loss surgery support and online weight loss support programs
• Interacting, learning from and sharing experiences with others in your situation

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact us.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Obesity Among Adults in the United States - NCHS Data Brief.  November 2007.  Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db01.pdf. Accessed October 29, 2009.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Childhood Overweight and Obesity. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html. Accessed October 29, 2009.
3. Christou NV, Sampalis JS, Liberman M, Look D, Auger S, McLean AP, MacLean LD.  Surgery decreases long-term mortality, morbidity, and health care use in morbidly obese patients. Ann Surg. 2004 Sep;240(3):416-23; discussion 423-4.

[Last editorial review/modification of this page: 12/30/2011]