Obesity is more than just a weight problem; it's a lifestyle and health issue that affects self-esteem and overall well-being. Clinically severe obesity, defined as being at least 100 pounds over ideal body weight, is a serious disease. Fortunately, UT Health and UT Southwestern offer comprehensive weight loss programs and surgical options to help individuals achieve their health goals. This article explores the services, approaches, and support systems available at UT weight loss clinics.
The Benefits of Weight Reduction Surgery
Weight reduction surgery can significantly improve your quality of life. It can lessen or eliminate associated diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and high cholesterol. Additionally, it can positively impact gastroesophageal reflux disease, stress incontinence, cardiac function, infertility, and osteoarthritis. In some cases, weight loss surgery may reduce the need for certain medications. Most importantly, it can empower you to regain control of your life.
UT Health Bariatric Surgery Program
UT Health physicians have been performing bariatric surgery since the 1980s, making them highly experienced providers in San Antonio and South Texas. Their board-certified, fellowship-trained bariatric surgeons offer minimally invasive laparoscopic weight-loss surgery procedures that result in less scarring and faster recovery. They also provide guidance on proper nutrition and exercise to help patients achieve lifelong health and wellness.
Comprehensive Approach
University Bariatric Center provides a comprehensive approach to the bariatric surgery process. Their team of specialists offers top-tier diabetes and weight management care to prevent future health complications and improve your quality of life.
What to Expect Before Weight Loss Surgery
If you're struggling with obesity, it's essential to understand what to expect before undergoing weight loss surgery. The University Bariatric Center team will guide you through the process, ensuring you are well-informed and prepared.
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Weight Loss Support Group
UT Health offers a weight loss support group to provide ongoing encouragement and resources for patients on their weight loss journey.
UT Health's Comprehensive Obesity Management Program (COMMP)
UT Health's Comprehensive Obesity Management Program (COMMP) utilizes evidence-based medicine to help patients achieve successful weight loss and improve overall health. Their multidisciplinary team consists of obesity medicine physicians and registered dietitians who create individualized plans tailored to each patient's specific goals and needs.
Tools for Long-Term Success
COMMP helps you discover the tools in today’s Obesity Medicine Toolbox to succeed at long-term success. These tools included measurement, education, and individualized assistance with nutrition, physical activity, behavioral modification, metabolism and body composition assessment, anti-obesity medications, and adjustments to your current medications.
Chronic Disease Management
Obesity, like diabetes, is a chronic disease that requires consistent long-term care. The relationship established between you and your COMMP Team lasts a lifetime. For the first two months, you will visit our center every week, alternating your visits between our physicians and registered dietitians. After two months, your visits are spaced out to fit your schedule and we develop the plan together to help you succeed at long-term weight maintenance.
Expected Weight Loss
While weight loss varies for each person, based on clinical studies in obesity, we typically expect to see you lose 1-1.5% of your body weight per week, which is both safe and sustainable. For example if you weigh 200lbs that is 2-3 pounds per week.
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Anti-Obesity Medications
For some patients with obesity or overweight issues and certain medical conditions, anti-obesity medications are prescribed. These medications work to interrupt pathways in your body that drive obesity. This may include different areas of the brain to increase satiety, decrease hunger, and, in some cases, reduce cravings, as well as changes in other metabolic and hormonal pathways.
Meal Replacements
Each patient’s treatment plan is individualized. Some of our patients elect to utilize meal replacements due to the demands of their lifestyle and ease of preparation, especially when first starting out. Our ultimate goal is for our patients to meet nutrition requirements using as much whole food as possible. Meal-replacements can be purchased at clinic and our team can also provide suggestions for meal replacements that can be purchased at the grocery store.
Collaboration with Primary Care Physicians
While you will see the team at COMMP more frequently than your primary care provider (PCP), the medical care we provide is not a substitute for other chronic disease care, sick visits, or your annual physical exam. All our patients are encouraged to maintain a relationship with their PCP. As obesity medicine specialists, we are comfortable managing obesity and any weight related conditions. In some cases, some medications prescribed by your PCP will need to be adjusted or discontinued. We want to collaborate with your PCP as your medication needs change. At COMMP, we strive to keep your PCP updated on your weight loss journey.
Program Fees and Insurance
All patients are responsible for a $150 program fee due at the time of attending the New to COMMP class. The physician and dietitian visits are covered by most insurance providers (including Medicare). You will be responsible for your co-pay (if any) prior to any visit. At this time, COMMP does not accept Medicaid.
Telemedicine Options
The providers at COMMP may have the ability to conduct select visits via telemedicine depending on insurance coverage. However, we encourage all patients to start their journey with the COMMP team with in-person visits. There are select resources including vital signs, body composition analysis and resting metabolic rate that cannot be performed through telemedicine. All patients considering telemedicine visits should have access to high-speed internet and a device with video capability.
Read also: Your Guide to Weight Loss Clinics in Clearwater
Required Lab Work
Typically, you will get your lab work and RMR done between your 1st and 2nd COMMP visits. Your physician will determine if both can be done during your first visit. Generally, there is no need to repeat lab work if you’ve received them in the past 60 days prior to first medical visit with us and your weight and other medications have been stable during those 60 days. The labs we typically order are CBC, CMP, TSH, Vitamin D, Lipid Panel, Hemoglobin A1C, Uric Acid, and Fasting Insulin. Patients should be fasting prior to testing. Additional blood work may be requested, based on your initial history and lab results. If you have had recent lab work done, please contact COMMP so we can receive those results.
UT Southwestern's Weight Wellness Program
UT Southwestern’s Weight Wellness Program offers comprehensive, evidence-based treatments for patients living with obesity. Their interdisciplinary, team-based approach to weight management is dedicated to our patients’ wellness journey.
Treatments Offered
UT Southwestern provides experience and expertise across weight management treatments, from medical and nutrition therapies to surgical and endoscopic procedures. Their services for adult weight management include:
- Medical weight management: Includes medications that facilitate weight reduction, along with nutrition and lifestyle coaching and supportive counseling to help patients create sustainable changes for optimizing health, quality of life, and weight. Additionally, they help patients manage nutrition and digestive health after bariatric surgery.
- Surgery for weight management: An effective treatment for obesity and the associated health risks that enables patients to live longer and with a better quality of life.
Individualized Treatment Plans
Every person is unique, so each treatment plan is personalized. UT Southwestern's Weight Wellness Program tailors its approach to meet the specific needs and goals of each patient.
Diabetes Care at UT Health
UT Health also offers advanced diabetes care, recognizing the strong link between diabetes and obesity. Their team, led by endocrinologist and physician-scientist Dr. Carolina Solis-Herrera, specializes in the treatment and prevention of diabetes and cardiometabolic disease, including obesity and lipid management.
Comprehensive Diabetes Services
UT Health provides a range of services and treats various conditions related to diabetes, including:
- Advanced Diabetes Care
- Advanced Technology and Pump Care
- Diabetes Prevention (Prediabetes) and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
- Obesity and Metabolic Health
- Cardiometabolic Health and Lipid Care
- Transplant Endocrinology
- Drug-Related Endocrinopathy Prevention and Management
- Comprehensive Individual Medical Nutritional Therapy
- Comprehensive Nutrition Group Classes- Diabetes Self-Management Program (Accredited by the American Diabetes Association)
- Sports Nutrition Counseling
- Research and Innovation - Join a Clinical Trial!
Types of Diabetes
- Type 1 Diabetes: The pancreas produces little to no insulin. It generally occurs at a younger age but can occur at any age. About 5% of individuals with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
- Type 2 Diabetes: The pancreas is not producing adequate insulin, or insulin is not working properly. About 95% of individuals with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation in the world. Your risk of cardiovascular disease is 2 to 4 times higher if you have diabetes. About 2 out of every 3 patients with diabetes will die of heart disease.
Obesity and BMI
Having a healthy weight can mean many things for many people. Traditionally, having obesity is having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. Similarly, being overweight is traditionally diagnosed when a person has a BMI greater than 27.
Over time, people with obesity or who are overweight have an increased risk of developing other serious medical conditions.
Additional Resources for UT Select Members
UT Select plan members have access to various resources to support their weight loss journey:
- Naturally Slim: An online behavioral program that helps you change how you eat instead of what you eat. It’s not a diet.
- Nutrition benefits: UT Select covers healthy diet counseling by a licensed dietitian at no charge when the service is provided in-network and billed as preventive care.
- Jenny Craig: UT Select plan members are eligible for discounts to Jenny Craig through the Blue Extras Weight Management Discount Program.
- Blue Care Connection Weight Management Program: Offers guidance and support through personal motivational telephone coaching, an action plan for your lifestyle, online tools, and discounts to wellness-related products and services.
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