Bariatrics refers to the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity and overweight. Bariatrics consists of pharmacology and therapeutic methods for treatment of obesity, as well as obesity surgery, practiced by licensed physicians who specialize in Bariatrics or Bariatric surgery. Physicians use measures of body fat to diagnose patients as obese or overweight. A Bariatric Physician treats obesity with a variety of treatments including diet, behavior therapy, anti-obesity drugs, and in extreme cases, surgical procedures.

Bariatric Training Requirements

Physicians wishing to practice Bariatric medicine complete training during a hospital residency. During training, physicians may focus primarily on surgical procedures or on allied health treatment and prevention methods. Surgeons may train in the several surgical options for treating obesity which include lap bands and gastric by-pass surgery, which aim to reduce weight. Other physicians focus on alternative treatment methods including diet, exercise, and medication therapy.

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Bariatric Schools and Degree Programs

Bariatric physicians or surgeons are certified and licensed as physicians or surgeons in their respective fields. A physician who practices Bariatrics is not required to gain additional certification, but is encouraged to join professional associations such as the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) or American Society of Bariatric Surgeons (ASBS). The organizations have extensive continuing education programs that further specializes the knowledge, tools, and techniques of Bariatricians.

Bariatric Prerequisites

A physician wishing to practice Bariatric medicine must first complete formal medical training as an M.D. or D.O. Once graduated from medical school, physicians must complete a hospital residency training program in surgery or general medicine.

Bariatrics Continuing Education

Bariatric continuing education courses enable physicians to develop specialized medical weight-loss treatments and programs to suit the needs of individual patients. Some courses for surgeons include Essentials in Bariatric Surgery and Advanced Bariatric Surgery. Search HealthCare-TrainingCenter.com to find continued education courses for Bariatrics.