Long-term lifestyle changes and specialist support are the keys to losing and maintaining a healthy weight
These days, it seems as though we hear constantly about surgery as the solution to weight loss, but realistically not everyone is a candidate for bariatric surgery. That’s one of the many reasons why Premier Medical Group has established our Weight Management Program. You will work with a dedicated team composed of a board certified Gastroenterologist with proven experience in the management of obesity and an experienced registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. Our Weight Management team collaborates with you and other medical specialists, if needed, to design an individualized, effective plan to help you achieve your weight loss goals.
Excess weight is bad for your health, especially in the age of Covid-19
Carrying too much weight is a chronic medical problem in its own right and can increase the severity of other conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint pain and more. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, obesity is an independent risk factor for severe Covid-19. In a group of 5,700 patients hospitalized for Covid-19, 41.7% were clinically obese with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 30. People with obesity and diabetes are at higher risk for severe Covid-19, and severe cases of flu. In 2018 the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. was 42% of the population.
To be sure, these are alarming statistics but there is help at hand. If you feel like you’ve lost the same weight over and over again, if your weight depresses your spirits and makes it harder to exercise, Premier’s Weight Management program may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Diets don’t work in the long run, support for lifestyle changes does
The science behind Premier’s Weight management program is simple. Dr. Tamer Sargios, who leads the program, is a board certified Gastroenterologist who has had a long term interest in helping patients achieve successful weight loss. Working closely with registered Dietitian/Nutritionist Theresa Zangerle-McArtin, and with each patient, we can help you develop realistic and accurate expectations based on your body composition and other measurements. Through counseling about your options, a customized medical program will be designed to help you steadily achieve a healthy weight and a positive, balanced lifestyle which may be combined with some small or sustained doses of medication to help you develop will-power to maintain the program in the long-term.
Our program begins with an appointment with registered Dietitian/Nutritionist Theresa Zangerle-McArtin who will assess your weight loss goals and challenges. A follow up appointment is then scheduled with Dr. Sargios, or another gastroenterologist, who helps you understand your choices. Once an action plan is agreed on, program participants will continue to meet regularly with Theresa to work on behavior changes and modifications to support them on their weight loss journey. This is an excellent time to take control of your weight. There are now effective medications that can help you and research has proven that partnering with a physician and a nutritionist with regular follow up will help you succeed this time, and establish a long term program to decrease your weight and increase your health and well-being.
New endocscopic procedures can correct gastric bypass surgery complications
A great benefit to working with a gastroenterologist who focuses on weight loss is the new and improved approaches available through skilled use of endoscopy. For example, while gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery reduce the size of the stomach, if the weight is gained back, the pouch can stretch, or leak, or sometimes the pouch may be too tight. Through advanced endoscopy, the physician can work with an endoscope and a camera to repair the problems. Depending on the need, the stomach pouch can be stitched to its former smaller size, or other repairs can be made. Coupled with ongoing nutritional counseling and regular visits for support and motivation, the patient can resume successful weight management.
Endoscopy also offers a minimally invasive, temporary intra-gastric balloon
If there are clinical reasons that make bariatric surgery inappropriate, another minimally invasive, temporary solution is the intra-gastric balloon. It is inserted endoscopically for a period of time, such as six months, preventing the stomach from accepting too much food. When combined with nutritional counseling, it has proven very effective at re-educating the body to need less food.
There are so many good reasons to start your weight loss journey at Premier Medical Group
When you consider the essential health benefits of weight loss, and the fact that there are so many ways that we can help you, why delay any longer? Premier Medical Group’s Weight Management team are kind, understanding and supportive. Our options to help our patients are so much greater than ever before. It makes medical and personal sense to change your lifestyle to change your health for the better. Call Premier Medical Group at (845) 471-9410 and regain control of your weight and your health.