Specific Aim 1. Recruit a patient population and measure insulin sensitivity using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) to measure insulin resistance (IR), cytokines, incretins, and serum adipokines in morbidly obese patients • prior to and 7-10 days following bariatric surgery while on a hypocaloric diet (surgery group) and •prior to and 7-10 days while following hypocaloric diet similar to bariatric surgery (diet group). Subjects will be assigned to the two arms; subjects assigned to the hypocaloric diet may be offered bariatric surgery after completion of the diet.