Fit for the Job

Our certified bariatric coordinator, Dana Bradley, RN, CBN, is uniquely qualified to serve in her role. She is a certified bariatric nurse and has helped shape our bariatric program. And she’s also had bariatric surgery.

Since Bradley had gastric band surgery in November 2006, she has lost 103 pounds.  (more…)

Better Sleep through Bariatric Surgery

It has been said that you can address five diseases with one operation. No procedure other than weight loss surgery has the power to do that. Following surgery, the improvement rates for adult-onset diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypercholesterolemia are remarkable. In many cases, these issues go fully into remission once the weight issue is addressed. (more…)

Can Bariatric Surgery Alleviate Diabetes?

Can bariatric surgery alleviate diabetes? For those who lose weight and maintain weight loss, the answer is “yes.” (more…)

An “In-house” Success Story

Melody Helms, our patient advocate, oversees testing, records, appointments and patient progress. Her interaction with our patients runs deeper than that, though, thanks in large part to her own successful weight loss through bariatric surgery.

“I struggled with my weight since childhood,” says Helms. “I tried everything to lose weight, and often succeeded at losing, but never at maintaining, weight loss.” (more…)

A New Tool for Success

As an emotional coping mechanism, many obese people convince themselves that they are not overweight. Conversely, after successfully losing weight, some bariatric patients judge themselves too critically and fail to see an honest reflection of their new bodies. (more…)

Childhood Obesity: A Growing Problem

Are those extra pounds little Johnny is carrying just a little baby fat, or are they indicative of a more serious problem? The startling truth is that in America nearly one child in five is obese or overweight. (more…)

Extra Pounds Can Mean Extra Dollars Out of Your Pocket

In today’s economy, most people are keeping a close eye on the bottom line and trying to save money by any means possible.

As national retailers and restaurants will attest, people aren’t going shopping and eating out as often as they did before the economic crisis hit. Eating out less could lead to more savings than many people realize. By making fewer trips to fast food restaurants – and other dining establishments where there is a temptation to overindulge – overweight people can shed unwanted pounds, improve their health and reduce medical expenses. (more…)

Weight Loss Surgery: Much More than Aesthetics

Americans are fixated on losing weight. So much so, the process has spawned a successful network television show, and advertisements featuring “before” and “after” photos of people who have successfully lost large amounts of weight are sure attention-getters. (more…)

The ROSE Procedure: A Second Chance for Success

For the morbidly obese, bariatric surgery combined with behavior modification is the most reliable choice for maintaining long-term weight loss. Nevertheless, about 20 percent of the 100,000 people in the United States who undergo gastric bypass surgery each year regain their weight within a few years after surgery. (more…)

Celebrating Success

One of the joys of my profession is celebrating weight loss success with my patients. Our annual fashion show provides an excellent forum for doing just that. (more…)