The Obesity Epidemic and Bariatric Trends.

The United States has experienced a significant increase in obesity over the past several decades, including a substantial increase in obesity-related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. With obesity reaching epidemic proportions, there has been an increasing need for surgical intervention as a treatment option. Bariatric procedures have not only contributed to the significant weight loss a patient may experience but they have also had a profound effect on the decrease of weight-related comorbidities.