Obesity is a widespread chronic health condition in the United States, significantly impacting health and quality of life. Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness Programs offer a comprehensive approach to weight management, providing both surgical and non-surgical solutions to combat obesity and related diseases like diabetes. These programs emphasize a team-based approach, with specialized bariatric surgeons, dietitians, and fitness experts working together to support patients at every step of their weight loss journey.
Comprehensive Weight Loss Solutions
Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness Programs understand the challenges of losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The programs offer a range of surgical and non-surgical options tailored to individual needs.
Surgical Weight Loss Options
For individuals who have not found success with other weight loss methods, surgical options may be considered. Memorial Health University Medical Center is an accredited bariatric surgery center, recognized by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation & Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The bariatric surgeons perform surgery at Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) accredited bariatric centers, including Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Hospital Pembroke, and Memorial Hospital West. Available surgical procedures include:
- Gastric Bypass: This procedure involves creating a small stomach pouch by stapling off a large section of the stomach. The small intestine is then connected to this pouch.
- SADI-S (SADI-S Surgery): This combines the restrictive benefits of a sleeve gastrectomy with the malabsorptive effects of a gastric bypass, while preserving the valve at the bottom of the stomach to help maintain weight loss.
- Gastric Band Adjustment or Removal: The adjustable gastric band is a device placed around the top of the stomach to create a small pouch, limiting food intake. Memorial Health University Medical Center offers adjustment and removal of existing gastric bands but does not offer new gastric band placements, as they are considered less effective than sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass.
- Revisional and Conversion Procedures: These procedures modify or correct a previous bariatric surgery or convert one procedure to another (e.g., sleeve gastrectomy to gastric bypass). Reasons for these procedures include insufficient weight loss, weight regain, or complications from the original surgery, such as acid reflux. They are performed on a case-by-case basis.
Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options
Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness Programs also offer non-surgical approaches to weight loss, emphasizing lifestyle changes, diet, and fitness.
- Medical Weight Loss: This plan is designed and supervised by healthcare professionals, focusing on diet, fitness, and a healthy lifestyle.
- Healthy You Program: This program encourages weight loss through modest lifestyle changes, proven to reduce weight and the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Participants attend weekly meetings for support and accountability, with regular reviews of food logs, activity minutes, and weight checks by a trained lifestyle coach. A medical initial visit is offered one month into the program to review medical history and address any medical barriers to weight loss.
- Healthy You+ Program: This program combines group support, lifestyle changes, and accountability with individual visits. It features physicians specializing in obesity medicine, working alongside physical therapists, clinical social workers/counselors, and registered dietitians. Recommendations may include individual work with physical therapy, social workers/counselors, and registered dietitians to improve overall health.
Eligibility and Considerations
While weight loss surgery can be a life-changing option, it is not suitable for everyone. Anyone can get weight loss surgery, but it is not the right choice for everyone who needs to lose weight. The process leading up to bariatric surgery varies depending on each person’s medical history and insurance requirements. Candidates for the Healthy You and Healthy You+ programs must be 18 years or older with a BMI of 25 or greater and a desire to lose weight through lifestyle changes. Memorial Health University Medical Center invites individuals to complete an assessment to determine their suitability for weight loss procedures.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Life After Bariatric Surgery
Undergoing bariatric surgery is a major life change requiring preoperative education and a significant recovery period. Following surgery at Memorial Health University Medical Center, patients stay in a dedicated bariatric surgery unit staffed by specialized nurses. Post-discharge, 24/7 access to a nurse via telephone is provided. Scheduled appointments with the bariatric surgeon, advanced practice professional, and dietitian are essential, as are regular weight loss support group meetings.
Women of childbearing age are strongly advised to use at least two effective forms of birth control during the first 18 to 24 months following weight loss surgery due to the increased demands pregnancy places on the body.
Benefits of Weight Loss
Losing weight can significantly improve overall health and quality of life. Being overweight or obese makes it harder to participate in daily activities and can worsen health conditions like heart disease or diabetes, leading to other chronic health conditions.
Expertise and Accreditation
The New Mexico Bariatric Institute is a nationally accredited Center of Excellence, holding The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Bariatric Surgery Certification and is one of only five programs across the nation with this prestigious quality distinction. In addition to this certification, Memorial is an Accredited Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Bariatrics, and Surgical Quality Partner with the American College of Surgeons.
Memorial Health University Medical Center's surgical weight loss program in Savannah, Georgia, is led by board-certified general surgeons like Dr. Fermin Fontan, who specializes in metabolic and weight loss surgery, performing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, gastric adjustable banding, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch bariatric procedures. Dr. Fontan also brings a bilingual treatment option for his patients, speaking English and Spanish fluently.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
A Lifelong Commitment
Bariatric surgery requires a lifelong commitment to health. The team at Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness Programs is dedicated to helping patients achieve long-term success through in-depth education and ongoing support. After weight loss surgery, some permanent changes must be made to daily eating habits. Research has shown that attending scheduled appointments with your bariatric surgeon, advanced practice professional and dietitian, as well as regular weight loss support group meetings are crucial to your success.
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation