RESUMO
Although bariatric surgery has become more accessible in recent years, it is unclear whether populations disproportionately affected by obesity are utilizing this treatment. A cross-sectional analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed. The sociodemographic characteristics (race, sex, age, insurance, median income), co-morbidities, and weight loss surgery type were analyzed. Bariatric surgeries increased six-fold from 17,678 in 1998 to 112,882 in 2004 (p < 0.001). Thereafter, bariatric surgeries declined to 93,733 in 2007 (p = 0.24). The proportion of individuals of Other race undergoing bariatric surgery significantly increased, while the proportion of Whites significantly decreased over time. The proportion of individuals in the lowest income quartile (< $25,000) increased, while those in the highest income percentile (> $45,000) decreased. From 1998 to 2007, the sociodemographic characteristics of the bariatric surgery population have changed, although those that are disproportionately affected by morbid obesity continue to be underrepresented.