bariatric

adjective

bar·​iat·​ric ˌber-ē-ˈa-trik 

ˌba-rē-

: relating to or specializing in the treatment of obesity : involving or practicing bariatrics

If all goes well, bariatric surgery leads to substantial weight loss, especially among the morbidly obese.

—Stephen J. Dubner et al.

a bariatric clinic

bariatric physicians

bariatric medicine

Examples of bariatric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Court documents say Leon, a 65-year-old bariatric surgery patient, died after leaving her doctor’s office during a 102-degree day. —Taylor Millard, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026

His research showed that, after bariatric surgery, the number of immune cells in people’s fat tissue decreased dramatically, but not everything completely reset. —Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026

For children above age 12, Ryder said medications and bariatric surgery are options. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026

For decades before the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, bariatric surgery was one of the few effective weight loss treatments for patients living with obesity. —Amber Gaudet updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

bar- + -iatric, probably after earlier bariatrics

Note: See note at bariatrics.

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bariatric

• allopatric
• geriatric
• paediatric
• pediatric
• podiatric
• psychiatric
• neuropsychiatric

Medical Definition

bariatric

adjective

bar·​iat·​ric ˌbar-ē-ˈa-trik 

: relating to or specializing in the treatment of obesity : involving or practicing bariatrics

Bariatric surgery is the umbrella term for all weight-loss surgeries reserved for obese patients. Gastric bypass is a subset of these surgeries that first divides the stomach into a small and large pouch and then connects the small stomach pouch to the lower small intestine …

—Bijal P. Trivedi, Discover

bariatric physicians

bariatric medicine