Factors Influencing Referral for Bariatric Surgery by Primary Care Physicians in Northern Israel.

Purpose: Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease with global distribution among adults and children which affects daily functioning and ultimately quality of life. Primary care physicians (PCPs) provide an important role for the treatment of severe obesity. Better understanding of obesity and its treatment options may increase patients' referral rates to the various treatment modalities, including metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS).