Bariatrics is the branch of medicine which deals with obesity: the causes, prevention and treatment of. The goal is to be able to supply overweight people with diet and nutrition programs, exercises and lifestyle change recommendations to help keep their weight down. When necessary, appetite suppressants and other medications may be prescribed. Yet one of the most requested treatments is bariatric surgery.

There are several different types of weight-loss procedures available with the most popular being Roux-en-Y surgery, commonly known as stomach stapling. But before deciding if you want to proceed with a weigh-loss operation, there are many factors to discuss with your doctor.

For starters, there is a difference between being overweight and suffering from obesity. Being overweight is considered having a total body weight over the recommended for ideal health. It is not necessarily unhealthy, though it is becoming a trend in America. Obesity is much more severe and can lead to serious health problems.

You cannot just walk in and demand to have any type of weight-loss procedure done to you; there are certain qualifications. The basic criteria are as follows:

- Must have a body-weight 100lbs. or more over your ideal body weight.

- Must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater that 40 or greater than 35 with medical complications directly resulting from your weight.

- Must have a attempted to try non-surgical options such as supervised diets and exercise programs.

- No indication of psychological disorder or alcohol abuse.

One needs to also take into consideration the cost of such a procedure. The different operations vary in price, ranging roughly from $10,000 - $40,000. Depending on how necessary the surgery is (determined on your initial visit to your doctor) your insurance plan may or may not cover some of the costs. Costs associated with such procedures include not only the surgery itself, but post-operation costs and check-ups. With the costs and risks of such surgery, the decision to get the operation should not be made lightly. It is designed for those whose weight causes a risk to their health and have no other option. If you are looking at bariatric surgery as a quick fix, or because you dont want to put in the work to get thin, please reconsider.