Bariatric medicine deals with the causes, prevention and treatment of obesity. A bariatric medicine physician, or bariatrician, may treat patients with diet and nutrition, exercise, behavior modification or medication. The bariatrician may also coordinate patient care with a bariatric surgeon, who may perform surgery. Bariatric or gastric bypass surgery, also known as roux-en-Y gastric bypass, creates a small pouch of the stomach that bypasses part of the intestine. When the size of the stomach is reduced by surgery, it allows less food to be ingested, resulting in weight loss.

Obesity is damaging to one’s health: some of the negative effects of obesity are heart disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer, hypertension, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis; and obesity has been known to shorten one’s lifespan.

South Dakota became a state in 1889. Its capital city is Pierre, and the population is 775,933. You can see unusual rock formations at the Badlands National Park, tour the World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, or visit the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills. Popular winter sports in South Dakota are skiing, snowmobiling, skating and ice fishing. In the summer, enjoy hiking, biking, fishing or hunting, or maybe tour an archaeological site. Famous historic Native American chiefs from the Sioux nation include Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and Red Cloud.

According to 2005 Census estimates, South Dakota has a population of 775,933. Of this population, 183,570 are under the age of 18 and 110,178 are at or above the age of 65.