A group of leading health professionals believe there is a lack of understanding by family doctors when it comes to bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery involves a number of procedures and weight loss is achieved by reducing the size of the stomach with a gastric band.

New Zealand has one of the lowest updates of the surgery in the world.

Dr Jon Morrow from the Obesity Surgery Society, says GPs in New Zealand are generally against bariatric surgery, even though the evidence is in favour of its use.

He believes less than a quarter of kiwi GPs will refer patients for surgery.