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.

Located adjacent to the Great Lakes, Wisconsin achieved statehood in 1848. Madison, the capital, is located in the south central part of the state, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s largest city, is home to a variety of cultural activities, including a world-renowned zoo, many museums, theaters, mansions, breweries, and parks. The Lakefront Festival of the Arts in June draws exhibitors from all over the country. Northern Wisconsin is a golfing, fishing and hunting paradise, and in winter, vacationers take part in snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. This area is also rich with Native American history and culture. Known as America’s Dairyland, farming and agriculture is a major industry in Wisconsin.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Wisconsin has a population of 5,536,201. Of this population, 1,266,074 are under the age of 18 and 719,835 are at or above the age of 65.