Bariatric surgery is a type of procedure that can be used to achieve significant weight loss in individuals who are very obese (morbidly obese). A thumb-sized stomach pouch is created (using a stapling or banding technique) then the outlet of the pouch is connected directly to the intestine, essentially bypassing the lower stomach. After the surgery, the amount of calories your body can intake is reduced which leads to weight loss.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are metabolism, nutrition, obesity, eating disorders, liposuction, lap band laparoscopic, and roux-en-y laparoscopic.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including weight management, lap band surgery, and surgical weight loss.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. The United States has 108 practicing bariatric / gastric bypass surgeons. Broken out by state, bariatric surgery doctor density in Alabama is 2, in Arizona is 3, in California is 19, in Colorado is 3, in Connecticut is 1, in Delaware is 1, in District of Columbia is 2, in Florida is 12, in Georgia is 6, in Idaho is 1, in Illinois is 5, in Indiana is 2, in Iowa is 2, in Kansas is 2, in Kentucky is 2, in Louisiana is 5, in Maryland is 1, in Massachusetts is 2, in Michigan is 9, in Minnesota is 2, in Mississippi is 1, in Missouri is 4, in Montana is 2, in Nebraska is 5, in New Jersey is 3, in New York is 13, in North Carolina is 4, in Ohio is 10, in Oklahoma is 4, in Oregon is 1, in Pennsylvania is 10, in South Carolina is 1, in South Dakota is 1, in Tennessee is 3, in Texas is 24, in Utah is 3, in Vermont is 1, in Washington is 2, and in Wisconsin is 3.