Bariatric – what exactly does it mean?

WOW! Mobility & Rehab now stock bariatric equipment, whether it be for the bathroom, the toilet, the bedroom or mobility aids. 

But what is bariatric equipment, and what does it mean?

When searching for the meaning of Bariatric, there are various entries relating to its origins being Baros, which means weight in Greek with the example of a barometer that measures the air pressure and weight. Believe it or not, the term bariatric is not something new at all and has been around since 1965, relating to a branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of obesity. 

Then there is bariatric surgery which is an operation that helps you lose weight by making changes to your digestive system.

The term bariatric often describes those with a BMI > 40. Body mass index (BMI) is an index of weight for the height that classifies overweight and obesity in adults – your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in metres (kg/m2). The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines people who have a BMI greater than or equal to 25 is overweight, and a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obesity. 

Where once bariatric was only used concerning a specific medical treatment, it now often refers to people of larger size. 

Bariatric equipment and aids cater for the larger person with heavy-duty supports, increased weight capacity, and wider widths. A welcomed improvement for those that feel cramped, unsteady, or uncomfortable in a standard wheelchair, shower caddy or over toilet aid. 

WOW! Mobility & Rehab stock these items, and more. Check out the range now by exploring bariatric in the search bar.  

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