Bariatric Surgery Program at Penn
Obesity has become an epidemic problem in the
United States, reducing the life span of many
and impacting the nation’s health in detrimental
ways. The term “morbid obesity” is
used to describe a person whose Body Mass Index
(BMI), or ratio of weight to height, is greater
than 40. Morbid obesity is often associated with
medical conditions such as high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnea, and
an increased risk of colorectal and other cancers.
For those who are severely obese, diets, medications
and behavior modifications often fail. Surgical
treatment offers hope to people who are severely
obese, as it is a proven method of achieving long-term
weight loss for this population.
The Bariatric Surgery Program at the University
of Pennsylvania Health System offers comprehensive
care for the “morbidly obese” patient
before and after weight loss surgery. Our staff
consists of a team of professionals who are experts
in their respective fields – medicine, nursing,
nutrition, psychology and surgery. This team works
together to provide patients with the best medical
care, while also helping patients achieve lifestyle
and weight loss goals.
For more information about our programs, click
on one of the links below:
For additional health information, see the Bariatric
Surgery Care Guide.
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