bariatric – the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention and treatment of obesity, both pharmacological and surgical

body mass index (BMI) – a measure of body weight relative to height. BMI can be used to determine if people are at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. To figure out BMI, use the following formula:

BMI = weight in pounds X 703
height in inches X height in inches

A body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 up to 25 refers to a healthy weight, a BMI of 25 up to 30 refers to overweight and a BMI of 30 or higher refers to obese.

comorbidities – simultaneous appearance of multiple illnesses, e.g. comorbidities of obesity may include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and arthritis

degenerative – the breakdown of the cartilage lining the bones in joints, usually weight-bearing joints (such as the knee); causes stiffness and pain (also called osteoarthritis)

endocrinology – the scientific study of the function and pathology of the endocrine glands (for example the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, etc.)

gastric banding – a surgical procedure in which a band made of special material is placed around the stomach near its upper end, creating a small pouch and a narrow passage into the larger remainder of the stomach

gastric bypass surgery – a surgical procedure for the treatment of obesity where a thumb-sized stomach pouch is created using stapling techniques to divide the stomach and then connect the outlet of the pouch directly to the intestine (also known as the bowel), essentially "bypassing" the lower stomach

gastroenterology – the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of diseases of the stomach and intestines and their associated organs

genetic – involving, resulting from, or relating to genes or genetics

grehlin – is a hormone that is produced by cells lining the stomach and stimulates the appetite. Grehlin levels are increased prior to a meal and decreased after a meal. It is considered the counterpart of the hormone leptin, produced by adipose tissue, which induces satiation when present at higher levels

hyperlipidemias – an excessive level of fats in the blood. These fats can be triglycerides or cholesterol. Hyperlipidemia is often associated with increased risk of heart disease and strokes.

hypertension – blood pressure above the normal range

minimally invasive – a minimally invasive medical procedure is defined as one that is carried out by entering the body through small incisions in the skin or through a body cavity or anatomical opening with the least amount of tissue disruption

laparoscopic – a surgical operation performed with the help of a miniaturized camera and several long, thin instruments through natural body openings or small incisions; advantages include less pain, faster recovery

leptin – a hormone produced by fat cells that indicates the degree of hunger to the brain in order to control the storage of body fat

malabsorption – poor absorption of nutrients by the small intestine

metabolic – relating to or typical of metabolism, the series of processes by which food is converted into the energy and products needed to sustain life

multidisciplinary – in medicine, a term used to describe a treatment planning approach or team that includes a number of doctors and other health care professionals who are experts in different specialties

obesity – having a high amount of body fat. A person is considered obese if he or she has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater

type 2 diabetes – a chronic disease that develops when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or the body is unable to use it

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