SPRINGFIELD, NJ (Sept. 12, 2013) – New Jersey Bariatric Center^® surgeons and staff will be tying on their sneakers to take the “Walk from Obesity” along with weight loss surgery patients (Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve and LAP-BAND^®) and others who are joining the fight against obesity.

“The Walk from Obesity is a great way for people to show their support for their families and friends who are fighting obesity,” said Dr. Ajay Goyal, founder of the New Jersey Bariatric Center^® and medical director of Bariatric Surgery at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, which is hosting the event. “We always tell our patients − whether they’ve had Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve or LAP-BAND^® − that weight loss surgery is only a tool. They still have to exercise and walking is a great way for weight loss surgery patients to get started.

“With this event, they are getting exercise and also helping to raise funds to aid obesity research and education,” Dr. Goyal said.

The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Nomahegan Park, 1024 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016. Registration and check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. Warm up with a free Zumba class and activities for the kids, including races and pumpkin painting, will begin at 9 a.m. The Walk will start at 10 a.m.

The cost is $25 for advance online registration and $35 on site. The deadline for advance registration is Sept. 27th at 1 p.m. Children under the age of 12 are FREE, with a paid parent or guardian.

All registrations include an official Walk from Obesity t-shirt. Registration also includes an optional FREE one-year membership into the Obesity Action Coalition.

To register online, visit http://walkfromobesity.donordrive.com. Click on find a walk and select the Cranford walk. Or click here to join TEAM NJBC .

The Walk from Obesity is a national fundraising event that aims to raise awareness of obesity and funds to improve the quality of life and health of those affected. The mission of the Walk is to bring together all who are affected by obesity to draw national attention to the need for awareness, treatment and advocacy initiatives. Funds raised benefit the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Foundation and the Obesity Action Coalition.

The ASMBS Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting obesity research and to increasing professional and public awareness of bariatric surgery and its role in treating morbid obesity. The Obesity Action Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing obesity education and advocating on behalf of individuals affected.

Weight loss surgery alters the digestive tract to aid severely obese patients in losing weight. It is considered the most effective means of controlling weight and resolving co-morbid conditions in the obese patient, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

About New Jersey Bariatric Center^®
New Jersey Bariatric Center^®, a medical & surgical weight loss center with offices in Springfield, Somerset and Hoboken, New Jersey, helps patients achieve long-term weight loss success through the most advanced bariatric surgery procedures, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, LAP-BAND^® and REALIZE^® Band procedures. For more information about bariatric surgery, visit www.NJBariatricCenter.com.

Contact: Bonnie Smolen, Community Relations Manager, at 908-481-1270 for media inquiries