The role of the obesity medicine physician in the management of the bariatric patient

As obesity rates rise worldwide and with improved understanding of the biological, genetic, social, and psychological underpinnings of obesity, weight loss programs are challenged to manage overweight patients through a multidisciplinary approach. The obesity medicine physician is a crucial component of a successful medical and surgical weight loss program. Such a specialist can discuss and recommend weight loss for a given patient in an individualized manner, using a variety of different tools depending on what may be deemed most successful in a given situation. The obesity medicine physician may incorporate dietary recommendations, exercise, digital technology, weight loss medications, and medical devices to assist patients with nonsurgical weight loss or to help manage weight regain after weight loss surgery. Collaboration between bariatric surgeons and obesity medicine specialists provides an improved approach to patients that will likely foster success.