Obesity is a serious disease with many issues. UW Medicine recognizes the importance of weight loss to patients’ overall health and offers several weight loss clinic options. These clinics provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary programs to offer the most effective treatments for obesity and associated diseases. This article explores the various weight loss services available within the UW Medicine system, including the Valley Medical Center Weight Loss Surgery Clinic, the Weight Regulation Diagnostic and Evaluation Center at Harborview, and the Center for Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery.
UW Medicine-Valley Medical Center Weight Loss Surgery Clinic
The UW Medicine-Valley Medical Center Weight Loss Surgery Clinic in Renton, Washington, is highly regarded for its bariatric surgery program. HealthGrades ranks it #1 in Washington for Bariatric Surgery and among the top 10% in the nation.
Comprehensive, Multi-Disciplinary Approach
The clinic has pioneered a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary program. To best care for patients and help them achieve long-term weight management success, their treatment program integrates education on bariatric surgery, behavior modification, nutrition, and exercise.
According to Dr. Jeffrey T. Landers, a Bariatric Surgeon at the clinic, the availability of various resources to create the perfect program is key. The clinic offers great support from psychology, dietary nutrition, and exercise. The amazing support from the resources that they have are pretty unique!
Specialized Treatment of Obesity
Led by Dr. Jeffrey T. Landers, the clinic specializes in treating obesity through minimally invasive surgery. The entire UW Medicine-Valley Medical Center team is committed to helping patients achieve lasting weight reduction and improved health and wellbeing.
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Patient Testimonials
Patients have expressed gratitude for the care they received at the clinic. One patient, who had gastric bypass surgery in September 2020, praised Dr. Landers and his staff for their kindness and professionalism. They learned so much at his surgery seminar and it was a huge wake up call for me learning about the risks of obesity. He walks you through the entire process. Another patient, who had gastric bypass surgery in January, felt comfortable and well-informed throughout the entire process.
Supporting Efforts During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Valley Medical Center Weight Loss Clinic is supporting efforts to slow the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weight Regulation Diagnostic and Evaluation Center at Harborview
The Weight Regulation Diagnostic and Evaluation Center at Harborview provides evaluation, diagnosis, management, and education for patients of all ages with disorders of weight regulation. This includes patients with diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease complicated by excessive weight gain and obesity.
Integrated Approach to Weight Management
The physicians and other care providers at Harborview emphasize an integrated approach, requiring lifestyle modifications including diet and physical activity to minimize complications and enhance health, wellbeing, and activities of daily life. Treatment plans may also include pharmacologic therapy and referral for bariatric surgery when appropriate.
Services Provided
Services provided at this clinic include assessments, dietitian-assisted evaluations and education, individualized exercise programs developed by physical therapists, coordination of medical care, and access to healthcare.
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Location and Transportation
Harborview Medical Center is located at 325 Ninth Avenue in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood. It is accessible via King County Metro Transit bus routes No. 3, No. 4, and No. 60. Parking is available in the Ninth and Jefferson Building garage/P2 on Terry Avenue between Jefferson and James Streets, as well as on surrounding streets. The Washington State Legislature and King County mandates that parking at Harborview be self-supporting. As a King County-owned, state-managed institution, all garages and parking lots on our campus are paid for out of parking revenues. Harborview parking revenues must pay for all repairs, bonds and loans on all parking facilities. Parking revenues are also used to subsidize various Harborview commuter programs and the valet service.
Accessibility
Harborview Medical Center and the Patricia Steel Building offer ramps at their main entrances. The Norm Maleng and Ninth and Jefferson buildings enable easy access for all visitors.
Center for Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery
Founded more than 30 years ago, the Center for Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery is a nationally recognized center for weight loss surgery, and it is one of only six centers in the country funded by the National Institutes of Health to study outcomes of bariatric surgery. The center's multidisciplinary team includes bariatric surgeons, endocrinologists, internal medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers and registered dietitians. They work together to help patients stay on track and improve their health with a personalized weight loss solution.
Personalized Weight Loss Strategies
For patients beginning their weight loss journey, our team will evaluate their health status, weight history and lifestyle to recommend an optimal weight loss strategy. This may include intensive behavioral coaching, weight loss medications and/or recommendations for surgical intervention.
Bariatric Surgery Program
Our medical team provides safe and effective care, including comprehensive preoperative and postoperative care and metabolic weight loss procedures. We have expertise in gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, complex revisional surgery and lap-band removal and revision. Nurse navigators assist patients in completing all necessary tests and appointments and are on point for patients' questions and concerns. For patients who have had metabolic operations, our team will follow them for life to support maintaining a healthy weight long term.
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Bariatric Seminar Requirement
Patients interested in meeting with one of our surgeons are required to attend or watch our bariatric seminar and take the seminar quiz prior to their appointment. Please contact our clinic to attend in-person, or watch the online version here.
Online Classes
In addition to bariatric surgery and behavioral coaching, our center offers topical classes and one-on-one visits with providers from various specialties to help patients achieve optimal lifestyle and diet.
Eat Well Be Well Nutrition Series
The following Eat Well Be Well Classes were created to provide further education on understanding how the various types of foods you eat impact your weight. Each class will guide you through how to identify, track, and balance macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. They are meant to be viewed separately with time for you to spend creating and meeting goals related to the material. The most important part of these lessons is not the information, but how you put this information into action. Please give yourself at least 2 weeks to work on the goal setting handout for each video prior to moving on to the next video. This will help you best maximize the results you get from our program.
The series includes classes on:
- Carbohydrates and Sugars
- Fats and Fiber
- Protein and Hydration
Each class has a corresponding video and online quiz.
Bariatric Support Group
The center offers bariatric support groups to help patients learn from each other's experiences before and after bariatric surgery. There are two online support groups available:
- First Wednesday of the month, 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
- 2nd Wednesday of the month, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Patients must have completed at least one session with the dietitian or social worker prior to attending group.
Addressing Misconceptions About Weight Management
Dr. Laura Montour, co-director of the Center for Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery, emphasizes that weight-management is not merely cosmetic. Obesity is a complex metabolic disease, and treatment is individualized based on the patient's health needs. While bariatric surgeries can result in significant weight loss, they are not necessarily a cure.
Surgery requires someone to understand that there are going to be anatomical changes to the stomach, in the intestine, that allow for someone to feel full, to change some of the hormones that really are important in obesity treatment.
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