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.

Washington State was named for George Washington, the first American president. Washington achieved statehood in 1889, its capital is Olympia, and its population is now 6,287,759. The Pacific Ocean is on the west border, and the Cascade Mountain Range covers much of the central part of the state. Tour the scenery of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands in a ferry or take a whale-watching tour while you’re in the coastal area. Inland, visit one of more than 350 wineries. In Seattle, the Pike Place market is a must-see, as is the Space Needle. Take a trip to visit Mt. Saint Helens, a National Volcanic Monument, or tour the Mount Rainier National Park.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Washington has a population of 6,287,759. Of this population, 1,395,504 are under the age of 18 and 714,850 are at or above the age of 65.