After years of building community, education, and advocacy in the obesity and bariatric space, we are proud to announce:
BariNation is now the BariNation Foundation, an official 501(c)(3) federally recognized nonprofit organization.
This isn’t just a structural change.
It’s a commitment to sustainability.
It’s a commitment to access.
It’s a commitment to patients.
Why We Became a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Obesity is a chronic, lifelong disease.
Treatment requires long-term care, education, support, and advocacy.
Yet too many people face barriers:
- Financial barriers
- Geographic barriers
- Technological barriers
- Stigma in healthcare settings
- Lack of ongoing post-op support
- Isolation after bariatric surgery
- Confusion around GLP-1 medications
Becoming a nonprofit allows the BariNation Foundation to:
- Apply for grants
- Secure tax-deductible donations
- Build sustainable funding pathways
- Expand educational access
- Strengthen advocacy efforts
- Increase transparency and governance
This structure aligns with our heart.
A Patient-Led Foundation
The BariNation Foundation is built by people who live this disease.
Our leadership team includes bariatric surgery patients, long-term post-op patients, nonprofit governance experts, financial stewards, strategists, and community advocates.
We are:
- Experts by lived experience
- Experts by professional training
- Experts by commitment
Patient voice is not symbolic here.
It is foundational.
Our Mission
To bring knowledge, community, and hope together to support people fighting the disease of obesity.
We are treatment-agnostic.
We support individuals pursuing:
- Bariatric surgery
- Revisional surgery
- GLP-1 medications
- Medical obesity treatment
- Lifestyle-based management
- Long-term metabolic care
Because obesity treatment is not one-size-fits-all.
Our Vision: No Barriers to Lifelong Care
We envision a future where no one struggles alone with obesity.
Where access to support does not depend on income.
Where patients can speak openly without shame.
Where science replaces stigma.
Where community is recognized as a form of care.
The State of Obesity Care in America
- Over 100 million Americans live with obesity.
- Roughly 250,000+ bariatric surgeries occur annually.
- Millions are using GLP-1 medications.
- Metabolic syndrome affects tens of millions more.
And yet:
Post-operative support is inconsistent.
Insurance coverage remains uneven.
Mental health care is often overlooked.
Long-term disease management is fragmented.
The BariNation Foundation exists to help close that gap.
Why Community Matters in Obesity Treatment
Research continues to show that long-term outcomes improve when patients have:
- Ongoing peer support
- Access to evidence-based education
- Accountability structures
- Safe spaces to process shame and stigma
Isolation fuels relapse.
Community fuels resilience.
Inside BariNation, members regularly say:
“This is where I finally understood obesity is a disease.”
“This is where shame fell away.”
“This is where I found hope again.”
That’s what we’re scaling.
Financial Transparency and Governance
As a nonprofit, the BariNation Foundation operates with:
- Financial transparency
- Board oversight
- Governance accountability
- Mission alignment review
- Responsible stewardship of donor funds
Every dollar supports:
- Educational programming
- Podcast production
- Free public resources
- Community access initiatives
- Advocacy and awareness efforts
What Comes Next
This is Day One.
We are:
- Expanding partnerships
- Seeking grant opportunities
- Growing advocacy channels
- Increasing patient access
- Building sustainable systems
The work begins now.
How You Can Support the BariNation Foundation
You can:
- Become a monthly donor
- Make a one-time tax-deductible gift
- Share our mission with friends and colleagues
- Partner as a practice or organization
- Amplify patient voices
Your support helps eliminate barriers to care.
And that’s a fight worth joining.
Our North Star
BariNation started as a podcast between patients.
Today, it stands as a federally recognized nonprofit dedicated to changing the landscape of obesity care.
We are just getting started.
And if you are fighting the disease of obesity, you are not alone.
Watch and Listen
If you want to dive a little deeper into our transformation, listen to Episode 277 of the BariNation Podcast, where the Foundation Board and Leadership team shared more about the "why" behind it all and the roles they will play as they guide the Foundation through our first year.
- Listen on Apple Podcast
- Listen on Spotify
- Watch on YouTube
