Privacy Policy

Introduction Bariatricreview values the privacy of its readers and visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit bariatricreview.com and interact with our services. It also describes the choices you can make about our use of your information and how you may access or correct data about you. If you do not agree with this Policy, please do not use our site or submit personal information. Information we collect 1. Information you provide directly: When you use our contact form, subscribe to newsletters, submit comments, or otherwise communicate with us, we collect information you voluntarily provide. Typical fields include name, email address, subject line, message content, and optional details you supply to help us respond. We may also collect survey responses and other feedback. 2. Usage data and analytics: We collect information about your interactions with the site. This includes pages viewed, click paths, duration of visits, referring URLs, browser type and version, device identifiers, operating system, and IP address. We use cookies, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to gather this data. 3. Cookies and tracking technologies: Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use session cookies to maintain site functionality and persistent cookies to remember preferences and facilitate analytics. Third-party services we engage, such as Google Analytics, may place their own cookies. You may manage cookie settings through your browser; however, disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality. 4. Third-party sources: We may augment our records with information from public sources, analytics providers, and advertising partners. This helps us better understand site performance and audience demographics. How we use information We process personal data for the following purposes: - To provide, maintain, and improve the site and its content. - To respond to inquiries sent through the contact form and to manage subscriptions. - To analyze usage patterns and performance to optimize user experience and site features. - To personalize content and communications, including newsletters and updates when you opt in. - To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, or misuse of our services. Legal bases for processing When required by applicable law, we rely on one or more lawful bases including: consent (for newsletters and certain cookies), performance of a contract (to respond to requests), compliance with legal obligations, and legitimate interests (for site security, analytics, and service improvements). We balance legitimate interests against your privacy rights. Information sharing and disclosure We do not sell personal information. We may share data in limited circumstances: - Service providers: We engage third-party vendors for hosting, analytics, email delivery, and technical support. These vendors process data on our behalf under contractual obligations to maintain confidentiality and security. - Legal and safety reasons: We may disclose information if required by law, to respond to legal claims, or to protect rights, property, or safety of visitors and the public. - Business transfers: If Bariatricreview is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction. Users will be notified of any change to ownership or control of personal data. Cookies and advertising partners We may permit advertising and analytics partners to collect information about your visits to deliver more relevant content and measure advertising performance. These providers may build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on other sites. You can opt out of some interest-based advertising through industry tools and browser settings. We encourage you to review each partner's privacy policy for more details. Data retention We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, including for compliance with legal, accounting, or reporting obligations. For example, contact form messages and subscriber data are stored until you request deletion or unsubscribe, subject to backup and archival practices. Security We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal data from accidental loss, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include encryption of data in transit, access controls, and secure hosting practices. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. Your rights and choices Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, or port your personal information. You may also have the right to object to certain processing, including direct marketing. To exercise these rights, please use the site contact form and describe your request. We will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before processing sensitive requests. If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or California, specific statutory rights may apply; we will respond in accordance with legal requirements. Children Our site is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age. If you believe we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child, please contact us to request deletion. International transfers Data collected through the site may be processed or stored in jurisdictions outside your country of residence, including where our service providers are located. When transferring personal data internationally, we use safeguards required by law, such as standard contractual clauses where applicable. Third-party links The site may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. Visiting linked sites is at your own risk; read their privacy policies before submitting personal information. Changes to this Policy We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Significant changes will be posted on the site with an updated effective date. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy. Contact and requests If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us via the site contact form. Because we do not publish a contact email address for privacy requests, submitting a message through the form is the primary method to reach our data protection team. We will respond promptly and in accordance with applicable law. Effective date This Privacy Policy is effective as of the date posted on bariatricreview.com. Please check the site periodically for updates and the current effective date.