During May, Bariatric Medical Director Dr. David J. Lee and the Bariatric Center providers at Southern Indiana Surgery will hold free information sessions for those wanting to learn more about obesity and bariatric surgery.

These patient information sessions will be held at Southern Indiana Surgery, located at 2325 18th St., Suite 220 in Columbus. Each session is scheduled on the following dates:

• Monday, May 7, 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 12, 9:00 a.m.
• Monday, May 21, 5:30 p.m.

There will also be a special information session held at the Scott County Public Library, located at 108 S. Main Street in Scottsburg, Ind., on Thursday, May 17 at 6 p.m.

According to Dr. Lee, the sessions will cover the causes of obesity, trends and quality of life issues. The sessions will also explore misconceptions about bariatric surgery, surgery options including the LAP-BAND® System, REALIZE® Band and sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic gastric bypass, lifestyle implications and whether the surgery is covered by insurance.

To qualify for bariatric surgery, patients must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 30 and have significant weight-related conditions; or have a BMI over 40 without weight-related conditions. Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of obesity. Bariatric surgery is more than weight-loss surgery; it is a lifestyle change for overweight patients to improve their quality of life.

The Bariatric Center is an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®. The ASMBS BSCOE designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

To register for a free information session or for more information about bariatric surgery, interested individuals can now register online at www.columbusbariatrics.com or call the Bariatric Center at 812-418-3512. If your insurance doesn’t cover bariatric surgery, please ask about various financing options for the entire procedure or portions of it. Walk-ins are welcome.

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