Explore Your Options – Medical Weight Loss or Bariatric Surgery December 12, 2024 Obesity is a serious, common and costly chronic disease. It affects more than 2 in 5 adults in the United States, and increases the risk of diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease and more. For those committed to a healthier lifestyle, a medical weight loss program or bariatric surgery can jump start a weight loss journey toward improved health. How do these options differ? Medical Weight Loss Medical weight management is a comprehensive non-surgical approach to help patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight. This approach includes a wide range of services including medical evaluations, personalized treatment plans, weight loss medications, behavioral support, ongoing monitoring and supervision by weight loss experts. The Precision Wellness program, offered through the Samaritan Weight Management Institute, is an intensive, 16‑week medically supervised weight loss program. With comprehensive educational, motivational and physical fitness components, groups meet virtually once a week with weight loss specialists, registered dietitians and behavioral health specialists, and weekly in-person visits with fitness trainers. Participants develop tools to make lasting lifestyle and behavioral health changes. Weight loss medications are an additional option, too. “People come to us for help with weight management, but part of our job is to de‑emphasize scale weight and emphasize health and wellness,” said Katy Brown, DO, endocrinologist and coordinator of the Precision Wellness program. “Highly motivated participants can see reductions in body fat, improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as increased mental health wellness, confidence and overall well‑being,” Dr. Brown noted. On average, participants in a medical weight loss program can lose from 3% to 8% body weight, and up to 25% by adding medication. Participants must be 18 or older, have a body mass index of 30 or higher and be motivated for change. One-on-one consultations for medical weight loss also are available for those who are seeking an alternative to our 16-week lifestyle change program. The Precision Wellness program is offered in March and September of each year. The next class is already enrolling new participants. Early sign up is recommended as class sizes are limited and participants need to complete a pre-class activity before the first meeting on March 4. Surgical Weight Loss Bariatric surgery offers a more aggressive weight loss option. By altering parts of the digestive system, surgery limits the amount of food one can eat and changes hormone secretion patterns involved in hunger and cravings so a person feels satisfied by eating less. Samaritan offers two gastric restrictive surgical options. In the Roux‑en‑Y gastric bypass, a small stomach pouch is created by dividing the stomach and rerouting the intestines. This surgery also can improve blood sugar and cure acid reflux. The vertical sleeve gastrectomy removes a large amount of stomach but does not reroute intestines. As with any surgery, complications are possible. A person also must make significant dietary and lifestyle changes after surgery to avoid potentially serious consequences. Patients must be 18 or older and meet certain criteria to qualify for surgery. “Both surgical options are effective at weight loss — a person can lose up to one‑third of their body weight in the first year,” said Julio Bird, MD, bariatric and general surgeon. “Beyond weight loss, some of my most favorite results are taking people off their diabetes or high blood pressure drugs and getting them active and moving.” Surgery is not a fix‑all for weight loss, Dr. Bird noted. “Long‑term weight management is still dependent on lifestyle. In fact, after surgery is when the real work begins. Our most successful patients are those who monitor what they eat and continue exercise long after the surgery,” he said. Katy Brown, DO, and Julio Bird, MD, FACS, see patients at Samaritan Weight Management Institute and can be reached at 541‑768‑4280. Visit samhealth.org/WeightLoss to learn more about weight loss options. Interested in hearing from patients who have had weight loss surgery? Read stories from our patients who have graciously shared their experiences.
