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| The Emerging Specialty of Bariatric Medicine |
What is a Bariatrician?
A bariatrician is a licensed physician (Doctor of Medicine [MD] or Doctor of Osteopathy [DO]) who, as a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP), has received special training in bariatric medicine the medical treatment of overweight and obesity and its associated conditions. Bariatricians address the obese patient with a comprehensive program of diet and nutrition, exercise, lifestyle changes and, when indicated, the prescription of appetite suppressants and other appropriate medications. (The word bariatric stems from the Greek word barros, which translates as heavy or large.)
While any licensed physician can offer a medical weight loss program to patients, members of the ASBP have been exposed, through an extensive continuing medical education program, to specialized knowledge, tools and techniques to enable them to design specialized medical weight loss programs tailored to the needs of individual patients and modify the programs, if needed, as the treatment progresses. ASBP members are uniquely equipped to treat overweight and obesity and associated conditions. A physician-supervised medical weight loss program may be the safest and wisest way to lose weight and maintain the loss.
Overweight and obesity are frequently accompanied by other medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer and others. A bariatric physician is trained to detect and treat these conditions, which might go undetected and untreated in a non-medical weight loss program. |
Your bariatric physician will review you genetic, psychological, social, environment and physical history when devising your personal program.
Questions for you bariatric physician:
What is a realistic expectation of my with loss results?
What is the total coast to me to complete your program?
What test do you include in your initial exam?
How do you follow my progress?
Why should I choose your program over others?
Let your bariatric physician know...
What you do when you get a food craving.
What steps are you currently taking to control your weight.
Why do you think you need to lose weight now.
How do you feel about yourself when you give in to a food craving? |
| American Society of Bariatric Physicians |
The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) is a national medical specialty society of physicians who offer comprehensive programs in the medical treatment of overweight, obesity and associated conditions. Established in 1950, ASBP establishes and maintains bariatric practice guidelines and sponsors accredited continuing medical education programs for physicians and others to encourage excellence in the practice of bariatric medicine.
The ASBP’s Bariatric Practice Guidelines provide recommendations for the initial work-up and follow-up of patients and including history, physical examination, diagnostic studies that include laboratory work and an EKG, appropriate counseling, and the use of prescription medications if indicated. ASBP has also developed the Anorectic Usage Guidelines for the use of these medications. While the use of prescription medications may produce identified side effects, the health risks of remaining overweight far exceed the risks of the medications. |
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