James D. Atkinson, M.D., FACS

Founder of WhyDiet.com

Bariatric Surgeon in Las Vegas

WhyDiet.com was conceived by Dr. James D. Atkinson, a leading bariatric surgeon in the Southwest who saw the need for an informational and interactive website to aid individuals in attaining long-term weight loss through education and sustainable behaviors and habits. Much of the information on WhyDiet.com comes from Dr. Atkinson’s ten years of experience working with overweight and obese patients and learning about the struggles and obstacles individuals face in battling weight issues.

In addition to creating and overseeing the medical direction of WhyDiet.com, Dr. Atkinson is director of the Gastric Band Institute of Las Vegas, where he and his team have performed more than 4,000 surgeries since the center opened in 1989. Since he began specializing in bariatric surgery in 2002, Dr. Atkinson has become a leader in the field, training more than 100 surgeons from the across the country in weight loss procedures and assisting in performing their first cases.

Dr Atkinson earned his bachelor’s degree from Portland State University and his M.D. from the University of Nevada. In 1995, he went on to do his residency training at University Medical Center in Las Vegas where he trained in bariatric surgery and later became a chief resident in surgery in 2000.

Surgical Weight Loss Doctor

After his surgical residency, Dr. Atkinson specialized in advanced laparoscopy and became a consultant for Ethicon Endo-surgery and Allergan, Inc. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Some of his achievements include induction to the distinguished medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha and a spot as one of “America’s Top Surgeon’s” in 2002. He has also been featured in MD News for his work in bariatric surgery.

Dr. Atkinson provides surgical weight loss options. Learn more about our other Las Vegas based bariatric surgeon.