Obesity is a chronic health condition affecting over 40% of adults in the United States. Panhandle Weight Loss Center in Amarillo, Texas, offers a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to weight loss, focusing on both weight reduction and the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. The center provides a range of surgical and non-surgical weight loss options, aiming to empower patients to live happier, healthier lives through advanced treatment and comprehensive support.
Understanding Obesity: A Medical Perspective
Obesity is a highly stigmatized condition that can lead to discrimination. It's crucial to recognize that obesity is a medical issue requiring proper treatment. It is not solely caused by overeating, laziness, or a lack of willpower. Many factors beyond a person's control contribute to obesity, including genetics, environmental factors, gender, and age.
The rate at which the body burns calories, known as the basal metabolic rate (BMR), is essential to regulating weight and can be impacted by a complex system of hormones, brain function, organ systems, and even sleep. Disruption to any of these factors can cause weight to accumulate, highlighting the limitations of traditional calorie reduction strategies.
Health Risks Associated with Obesity
Obesity significantly increases the risk of several serious health conditions, including:
- Type II diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Sleep apnea and breathing problems
- Certain types of cancer (breast, esophageal, colon, pancreatic, and uterine)
Obesity can also negatively impact a person's quality of life, leading to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and poor body image. The annual cost of obesity can range from $9,000 to $17,000 compared to individuals of average weight.
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Personalized Weight Loss Solutions at Panhandle Weight Loss Center
Panhandle Weight Loss Center understands that effective, sustained weight loss is a lifelong journey. They specialize in providing individuals with the tools and support needed to succeed. The center's team of bariatric surgeons and weight loss experts do not believe in quick fixes or one-size-fits-all medical care. They take the time to discuss each patient's unique needs and goals, reviewing options to develop a customized treatment plan.
Surgical Weight Loss Options
Panhandle Weight Loss Center offers cutting-edge bariatric surgical treatments for weight loss, addressing weight-related health issues such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. These procedures are performed laparoscopically and are individualized based on the patient's medical history and objectives. Some of the surgical options available include:
- Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: This procedure removes 70-80% of the stomach, leaving it shaped like a hot dog. It is a highly effective approach that can produce hormonal changes that reduce hunger.
- Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy (SADI-S): This is a well-known and aggressive malabsorptive operation.
- Gastric Bypass: Panhandle Weight Loss Center offers this surgery at a transparent price.
Important Note: Weight loss surgery is not the "easy way out." It requires dedication, commitment, and lifestyle changes for a patient to be successful. However, it can unlock weight loss processes in the body through changes in hormonal patterns that cannot be achieved through diet and exercise alone.
Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options
In addition to surgical options, Panhandle Weight Loss Center provides a medically supervised weight loss program. This program focuses on nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle changes.
The Science Behind Weight Loss
Obesity is not solely the result of overeating or a lack of willpower. It's a complex medical condition influenced by various factors, including genetics, hormones, and environmental influences. The center emphasizes that simply reducing calorie intake is not always the key to successful weight loss.
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The center highlights the importance of understanding the types of calories consumed. They challenge the outdated belief that dietary fat causes heart disease and that carbohydrates are "heart healthy." Current research suggests that diets high in carbohydrates are primary contributors to the obesity epidemic.
The focus should be on regulating insulin secretion, which has been demonstrated to be the primary hormone responsible for the development of obesity. Nutritional platforms that control the release of insulin are paramount in maintaining weight loss initiated through various surgical approaches.
The Importance of Diet and Lifestyle Changes
Rather than "dieting," Panhandle Weight Loss Center encourages patients to adopt a lifestyle of well-being supported by consistently healthy food choices. Current medical literature and studies support a nutritional approach that significantly limits sugars and refined carbohydrates while focusing on healthy saturated fats, vegetables, and protein as the foundation of a healthy diet.
Exercise and Weight Management
While the "eat less, exercise more" philosophy is deeply ingrained, scientific evidence suggests that regular exercise alone may not be sufficient for weight loss. However, exercise offers numerous other benefits, including increased endurance and fitness, reduced risk of heart disease, and improved overall well-being.
The best workout routine is one that you'll stick to. Panhandle Weight Loss Center offers the following tips for establishing a consistent fitness regimen:
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- Find exercises you enjoy.
- Choose a convenient gym location.
- Enlist the support of a workout buddy or coach.
- Make working out part of your regular schedule.
- Set specific goals and reward yourself when you meet them.
Increased physical activity is a necessary part of any healthy lifestyle, and regular exercise can help people with obesity become more fit and improve their physical and emotional health overall.
Types of Exercise to Consider
- Low Impact Exercise: Gentle exercises that are easier on the joints and muscles, such as swimming, chair yoga, and walking.
- Aerobic Exercise: Exercises designed to increase the heart rate, improving cardiac function, such as cycling and swimming.
- Weight Lifting and Resistance Training: Exercises that help preserve muscle mass and increase fat burning, such as pushups, squats, and lifting weights.
The Panhandle Difference: What Sets Them Apart
Panhandle Weight Loss Center distinguishes itself through several key factors:
- Experienced, Compassionate Surgeons: Dr. Bleu Schniederjan and Dr. Bo Neichoy are board-certified bariatric surgeons with a heartfelt dedication to helping people live their best lives. They provide comprehensive care with support from a dietitian, psychologist, and a certified personal trainer.
- Specialized Surgery Center: Bariatric procedures are performed at a surgeon-owned specialized surgery center, prioritizing patient safety and comfort. The entire staff is highly trained in bariatric surgery, and the center boasts a surgical complication rate far below the national average. The outpatient program allows patients to return home the same day as surgery and incur lower costs than they would in a hospital.
- Affordable Pricing: Panhandle Weight Loss Center offers fair and transparent pricing, partnering with medical lenders to provide budget-friendly financing options and self-pay pricing packages.
- Proven Results: The center focuses on helping patients achieve lasting health and happiness, providing the information and support they need for a successful life after weight loss.
Meet the Surgeons
- Dr. Bleu Schniederjan: A native of Amarillo, Dr. Schniederjan received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He completed his general surgery residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Weill-Cornell Medical College in New York City. He is a board-certified general surgeon and a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.
- Dr. Bo Neichoy: A Beaumont, Texas native, Dr. Neichoy graduated from Texas A&M University and received his medical degree from the University of Texas. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He is a board-certified general surgeon, a member of the American College of Surgeons, and a Texas Medical Association delegate.
- Dr. Peterson: Specializes in Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery.
Addressing Common Myths About Weight Loss
Panhandle Weight Loss Center debunks common myths about weight loss:
- Myth: Iâm too overweight to exercise.
- Fact: Any level of physical activity is an improvement that should be celebrated and built upon.
- Myth: Weight loss surgery is the easy way out.
- Fact: Weight loss surgery unlocks processes in your body by changing hormonal patterns. It also requires dedication, commitment, and lifestyle changes.
- Myth: Iâm too small for weight loss surgery.
- Fact: A BMI over 30 is a key factor for candidates for weight loss surgery.
- Myth: Weight loss surgery is the end of the journey.
- Fact: Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is a life-long commitment.
Taking the Next Step
Panhandle Weight Loss Center is committed to helping individuals achieve optimal health and weight loss success. They offer a range of surgical and non-surgical weight loss options, along with comprehensive support at every step of the journey.
To learn more about the options available to you, schedule an introductory consultation with one of their physicians (telehealth appointments are available). You can also fill out a free insurance check form to learn if your health insurance offers bariatric coverage or take a 60-second assessment to determine if you are a candidate.