Managing weight can be a significant challenge, and Lahey Clinic offers a comprehensive approach to weight management. Their programs encompass both medical weight management and bariatric surgery, providing patients with a range of options tailored to their individual needs. Weight management can support fertility care and treatment. Lahey Clinic is also one of the few facilities in the region offering pediatric weight management care.
Types of Care Offered
Lahey Clinic provides two primary types of care for weight management:
- Medical Weight Management: This involves non-surgical approaches to weight loss, focusing on lifestyle changes, diet, and medication.
- Bariatric Surgery: This involves surgical procedures to aid in weight loss, such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.
It's important to note that patients don't "sign up" for one or the other exclusively. The approach is tailored to the individual's specific needs and goals.
Free Information and Support
Lahey Clinic offers several free resources to help individuals explore their weight management options:
- Virtual Information Sessions: These sessions are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm (holidays may affect the schedule). Get information about weight management at Winchester Hospital.
- Support Group Info Sessions: These sessions are held on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
The goal of these sessions is to provide individuals with the knowledge and support they need to make informed decisions about their weight loss journey. Participants can meet the staff, get an overview of the program, and sample HMR food. To register for the next information session, call 781-396-6221, ext.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
HMR Program: A Unique Approach
Lahey Clinic utilizes the HMR (Health Management Resources) program, which offers a unique approach to weight loss.
Key Features of the HMR Program
- Simplicity: The HMR plans are simple to follow, and the HMR foods are filling and ready in minutes.
- Lifestyle Strategies: The program includes simple, healthy lifestyle strategies to help maintain weight loss and improve quality of life.
- Decision Free® Diet: This is a structured meal replacement plan.
- Weekly Education Classes: These classes, led by registered dietitians, provide support, accountability, and follow-up.
- At-Home Option: Individuals can lose weight on their own at home with an HMR diet kit, which includes all the necessary foods and support materials.
Benefits of the HMR Program
- Reduce health conditions related to obesity.
- Improve overall health.
Bariatric Surgery Options
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center offers various types of metabolic and weight loss surgery. These include:
- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
- Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Duodenal Switch/Single Anastomosis Duodenal Switch
- Revisional Surgery
Nearly all weight-loss surgeries are performed laparoscopically or robotically, resulting in fewer complications and faster recovery times. Laparoscopic and robotic surgery are completed through 5-6 small incisions, as opposed to the large surgical opening used in traditional surgeries. However, some patients may not be candidates for these minimally invasive approaches.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass is the surgery that has been around the longest for weight loss. It involves surgically separating the stomach so that a small pouch is created at the top.
How Gastric Bypass Works
- Reduced Food Intake: It creates a much smaller receptacle for food, preventing you from overeating.
- Reduced Calorie Absorption: Because it bypasses a section of intestine, it reduces the intestinal area that absorbs nutrients and calories.
- Hormonal Changes: This surgery alters the stomach and intestinal hormones, reducing hunger and helping to fix diabetes in many people.
Expected Weight Loss
Weight loss is usually fairly rapid following a gastric bypass procedure; the average person loses about half of their excess body weight in the first six months. After that, weight loss slows down and finally reaches a plateau after about two years. Overall, patients lose an average of 60-70 percent of excess body weight.
Read also: Your Guide to Weight Loss in Downey
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
The most common procedure completed at Lahey Clinic is the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. In this operation the outer part of the stomach is permanently removed. This decreases the amount of food that the stomach can hold by about 90%. The smaller amount of food that can be eaten passes more quickly into the intestine which is not surgically altered.
Advantages of Sleeve Gastrectomy
- No anastomoses (connections between the stomach and intestine).
- No need to divide or bypass the intestine.
Disadvantages of Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Can make heartburn or reflux worse.
- Less effective in curing diabetes compared to the bypass.
Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch
The most powerful procedure to lose weight is the laparoscopic duodenal switch. This procedure is not commonly performed, and reserved for individuals with obesity, typically those with a body mass index (BMI) of 50 or higher. It is also associated with a higher complication rate, so people that have a lot of medical problems are usually not good candidates. However, it is associated with 80% excess weight loss and the highest success with eliminating and preventing complications associated with obesity. In this operation, a sleeve gastrectomy is combined with an intestinal bypass to result in a combination of restriction and malabsorption.
Revisional Surgery
Revisional surgery may be an option for patients who have already undergone a weight loss operation and have a problem that needs to be corrected. About 90% of the patients that have the Lap Band do not lose enough weight, regain weight or develop other problems such as reflux or difficulty swallowing. In these patients, the band can be laparoscopically removed, and a gastric bypass or a sleeve gastrectomy performed instead. The hospital stay and recovery is similar to non-revisional surgery. About 25% of patients can develop acid reflux after a sleeve gastrectomy procedure. Some patients may find this hard to control with medication or not want to remain on medication for the rest of their life.
Addressing Weight Regain
Weight regain can occur after gastric bypass surgery. The limb distalization procedure can be a surgery to help reverse weight regain after bypass. When this surgery is completed the area of absorption of nutrients in your small intestine is made shorter, which helps you to lose more weight. When undergoing this surgery, patients have experienced an average drop in BMI by 11 points or have lost 62% of the excess weight on their body (ex: 100 pounds overweight = 62 pounds of weight loss).
Addressing Staple Failure
This operation, commonly known as “stomach stapling,” was very popular in the 1980s. In about 50% of patients the staples failed, leading to poor weight loss, stomach ulcers and pain. This operation is necessary if there is a complication such as a fistula or connection between the bypassed stomach and stomach pouch. This can also lead to poor weight loss and ulcers.
Read also: Your Guide to Weight Loss Clinics in Clearwater
Expected Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery
Most patients will lose around 50 to 70% of their excess weight and keep it off for more than five years. Most surgeries last between two and three hours. Since all of our surgeries are performed through small incisions, patients only spend one or two days in the hospital. Lahey Clinic completes over 300 weight loss surgeries every year.
Center of Excellence Accreditation
Lahey Clinic is accredited as a center of excellence for weight loss surgery. To receive this accreditation, they have to demonstrate that they can take care of the most complex patient cases and deliver high-quality results.
Factors Contributing to Weight Regain
Since there are so many factors that lead to obesity, causes for weight regain can vary based on the individual. Certain medications, exercise frequency and stress levels are all possible factors.
Medication Options
Our advanced practice providers or surgeons will talk to you about your weight-loss medication options. Additionally, if you’re struggling with weight gain after surgery, our team will evaluate your situation to determine whether medication is necessary.
Risks and Complications
All medical treatments, including surgery, have risks. More common are the risks of both short- and long-term non-fatal complications. The most common short-term complications are nausea and dehydration (roughly 5-10%). Long-term complications depend on the type of surgery.
Weight Management Program at Beverly Hospital's Lifestyle Management Institute
At Beverly Hospital's Lifestyle Management Institute, the primary goal is to improve the quality of your life and make you a Weight Warrior. Our interdisciplinary team of professionals includes a physician/NP/PA, pharmacists, dieticians, behavioral health specialists, and clinical exercise physiologists.
Program Components
- Personalized Weight Management Plan: The results of your overall evaluation then become the basis for your personal weight management plan.
- Exercise Component: An exercise component will be available for those needing supervision and instruction on safe exercise practices.
- Program Schedule: The program meets one-two times per week for up to 12 weeks at the Lifestyle Management Institute in Danvers. Virtual options are also available.
- Exercise Sessions: During the exercise sessions, exercise physiologists will be on site to assist and guide participants to reach their goals through instruction and demonstration of a variety of cardiovascular machines, weights, resistance bands and balance equipment.
- Lifestyle Management Tips: In addition, we will provide lifestyle management tips to help keep the weight off and improve overall health status.
- Maintenance Support Group: Upon completion of our Weight Management Program, participants may continue to participate in a monthly maintenance support group offered in a virtual format.
Insurance Coverage
Check with your insurance carrier to ensure eligibility for reimbursement.
Achieving Weight Goals
Achieving your weight goals takes a team. If you're living with a chronic health condition like heart disease, diabetes or another long-term illness, we're here to help you take control of your health.
Locations and Directions
Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers Campus
- From Route 128 North: Follow Route 128 North to exit 43 (old exit 22) West and take Route 62 West toward Middleton. Turn left off the ramp onto Elliot Street/Route 62 West. Elliot Street becomes Maple Street. Go straight through the first traffic light, staying on Route 62 West. Travel 2.7 miles going straight through the next three lights. At the fifth traffic light, get into the left-turn-only lane and turn left onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
- From Route 128 South: Follow Route 128 South to exit 43 (old exit 22) and take Route 62 toward Danvers/Middleton. Turn left off the ramp, then turn right onto Route 62 West/Maple Street. Go straight through the first traffic light, staying on Route 62 West. Travel 2.7 miles going straight through the next three lights. At the fifth traffic light, get into the left-turn-only lane and turn left onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
- From Route 95 North: Follow Route 95 North to exit 69 (old exit 49) and take Route 62 West toward Middleton. Turn left off the ramp onto Route 62/Maple Street. Go straight through the first traffic light. At the second traffic light, get into the left-turn-only lane and turn left onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
- From Route 95 South: Follow Route 95 South to exit 70 (old exit 50) and take Route 1 South. Stay in the right lane off the exit ramp. Take the Route 62 West exit toward Middleton. Immediately off the ramp, get into the left-turn-only lane at the first traffic light and turn left onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
- From Route 1 North: Follow Route 1 North to the Route 62 West exit toward Middleton. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Route 62/Maple Street. Immediately off the ramp, get into the left-turn-only lane at the first traffic light and turn left onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
- From Route 1 South: Follow Route 1 South to Route 62 West toward Middleton. Immediately off the ramp, get into the left-turn-only lane at the first traffic light and turn left onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
- From Route 62 East: Traveling east on Route 62, drive 0.7 miles past the Danvers town line. Turn right at the traffic light onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
- From Route 62 West: Travel west on Route 62. After passing under the Route 95 overpass, at the second light, get into the left turn-only lane and turn left onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
- From Route 114 East or West: From Route 114 East or West, turn onto Route 1 North. Follow Route 1 North to the exit for Route 62 West toward Middleton. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Route 62 / Maple Street. Immediately off the ramp, get into the left-turn-only lane at the first traffic light, and turn left onto Old Maple Street. Take an immediate right onto the driveway entrance for the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center - Danvers campus.
Parking: There are two free parking lots available for patients and visitors. The main outpatient entrance, called the North Entrance, leads to the first floor. The South Entrance, located at the rear of the building, leads to the second floor. Once inside, a greeter will assist you.
Lifestyle Health: Weight Loss & Wellness at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC)
Lifestyle Health: Weight Loss & Wellness at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC) offers a new path for people who are struggling to lose weight. From the moment you walk in our door, you’ll feel welcomed and supported. At Lifestyle Health: Weight Loss and Wellness, we understand that obesity is a chronic condition that needs ongoing care. There is close cooperation with Lahey’s Surgical Weight Loss program for people who choose this weight-loss method. The Medical Weight Loss team at Lahey is committed to removing all the barriers to your weight loss.
Key Features
- Convenient Location: You’ll also find us in a convenient location, with free parking and easy access to our clinic.
- Flexible Appointments: We have early morning and evening appointments, so you can come in before work or other activities.
- Timely Service: And you can count on seeing your provider on time, so you can get on with your day.
- Personalized Treatment: The most effective weight loss happens when the treatment plan is personalized for your goals, your lifestyle and your overall wellness.
Focus on Long-Term Weight Management
Losing weight and keeping it off is a complex challenge. We work with our patients over time with safe, effective weight-loss techniques. Our goal is not just to help you lose weight, but to help you sustain your weight loss into the future. If you’re ready to lose weight, and wondering if you’re a candidate for our medical weight loss program, give us a call at 781-744-7351. When you join our program you’ll quickly feel at home.
Experienced Team
The Lifestyle Health: Weight Loss & Wellness team at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center is focused on helping you overcome obstacles to losing weight and making your plan work now and into the future. Our experienced team includes physicians who are board certified in Obesity Medicine. Other providers specialize in fields such as endocrinology, psychology and nutrition. Our providers have advanced training in behavioral health, diabetes education and other areas related to weight loss.
Obesity and Comorbidities
Obesity is often accompanied by other medical conditions, called comorbidities. These conditions can significantly impact a person's health and well-being. Lahey Clinic's weight management programs address these comorbidities as part of a comprehensive approach to care.
Common Obesity-Related Comorbidities
- Depression: Depression is a serious illness that involves the mind, body and mood. It includes feeling of worthlessness and despair and physical manifestations such as fatigue and chronic aches and pains.
- Dyslipidemia: Dyslipidemia is a disorder of lipoprotein metabolism, usually caused by excessively high cholesterol. Dyslipidemia is a primary risk factor for coronary artery disease.
- Heart Disease: Heart disease is a general term used to describe a variety of conditions that affect parts of the heart or the heart as a whole.
- Hypertension: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is significantly more common in people who are obese than in people whose weights are normal. About 40% of Americans who have a BMI greater than 30 suffer from hypertension; only about 15% of Americans with BMIs below 25 do.
- Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the cartilage and bones.
- Infertility: The connection between obesity and infertility is somewhat complex. When a woman is extremely overweight, hormones from her adrenal gland can behave like estrogen and cause problems with normal ovulation.
- Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a condition with which a person stops breathing while asleep. This can happen 30 or more times over the course of a single night.
- Cancer: Obesity has been shown to increase a person’s likelihood of uterine, breast, colorectal, kidney and gallbladder cancers.
- Stroke: Stroke is caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain or other parts of the nervous system. This interruption deprives the brain of oxygen and vital nutrients, and within minutes, brain cells begin to die. Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States.
- Type II Diabetes: Type II diabetes, also called non-insulin dependent diabetes, is the most common form of the disease. Type II diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin) combined with relative insulin deficiency. Sixty-seven percent of people with type II diabetes have a BMI of greater than 27, and 46 percent have a BMI of greater than 30. can be attributed to being overweight or obese.