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

Cancer risks decline in general when patients lose weight, whether that is through diet or bariatric surgery, for example. —Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 9 June 2026

The medication offers weight reduction on par with bariatric surgery. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 June 2026

Nearly half of people lost more than 30% of their body weight, an amount that’s similar to bariatric surgery. —Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 8 June 2026

Though this is comparable to long-term results from bariatric surgery, McCoy says the rate of weight loss from retatrutide isn’t actually as fast as with surgery. —Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 29 May 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
• 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