Page 22 - Inspire Health March/April 2016
P. 22
AENON SUPPORT
VITAL TO
WEIGHT
LOSS
By Linda Doell
For Michelle and Brian of East The lack of support is one of the main “Our recommendation to any
Greenville, trying to lose weight reasons people aren’t successful with individual who is interested in having
has been an on‑again, off‑again bariatric operations, says Leonardo weight loss surgery is to look for a
battle even before they married. Claros, MD, FACS, FASMBS, and St. Luke’s designated Center of Excellence,”
“I’ve had weight issues since high medical director of bariatric surgery. Claros says. “They should have board‑
school,” Michelle says. She tried diet certified and ideally formally fellowship‑
plans — one kept her at 1,000 calories “If the individual doesn’t have the trained bariatric surgeons. The center
— but nothing worked. By the time she necessary support after the surgery, should be a high volume center meaning
most of them will not succeed and they should be very used to performing
turned to laparoscopic gastric bypass eventually will end up regaining their these surgeries routinely and not
surgery at St. Luke’s University Health weight back,” he says. “This is exactly only every now and then. This kind
Network, she weighed 287 pounds. where a well‑established bariatric of experience has been scientifically
Since having the surgery in November program comes in to play. The support is validated so many times to decrease
2013, Michelle has lost 147 pounds. paramount in the post‑operative period.” the chance of potentially life threatening
complications that could result from the
“I’m literally half the size of the person For example, at St. Luke’s there is a surgeries otherwise.”
I was,” she says. team which works with patients after their
surgeries. That team includes dietitians, For Michelle and Brian, one of the
Brian tells a similar story: By the end of licensed behavioral health specialists, an biggest things they’ve both noticed
eighth grade, he weighed in for football occupational therapist, bariatric‑certified since losing the weight has been more
camp and the scale tipped over 200 pounds. nurses and a fellowship‑trained bariatrician, energy — enough stamina to keep
which is a doctor that specializes in weight up with their kids, ages 10 and 12.
“I was wearing a size 40 jeans,” he loss and the care of bariatric patients. And they’re teaching their children to
says. “That’s when I really realized I had follow what they’ve learned on their
weight issues.” “As a team, we work with our patients, weight‑loss journey.
monitoring their nutritional status,” Claros
After a car accident, Brian’s weight says. “We provide support meetings that “We don’t want them to go through
ballooned, and on his 39th birthday, he will continue to teach them about what the same things,” Michelle says.
weighed 377 pounds. Although he didn’t it is that they need to do to be successful.
have issues with weight‑related maladies We provide tools to allow them to cope Leonardo Claros, MD,
such as high blood pressure and diabetes, with stress eating and to avoid pitfalls FACS, FASMBS,
it was only a matter of time before he with holiday meals ... We emphasize and St. Luke’s
developed them. the fact that physical activity has to be medical director
incorporated into their daily lives.” of bariatric surgery.
“I was going to be a ticking time bomb,”
he says. “Everything was just snowballing in That support system is also a part of
my life ... I fought this battle on my own as the medical weight loss program at St.
long as I could. I was exhausted all the time.” Luke’s, led by Sagar V. Mehta, MD. A
team of health care professionals that
After researching his options and looking include a registered dietician, a behavioral
into other programs, both regionally and health specialist and others work with the
internationally, he chose St. Luke’s program patient to help make lifestyle changes.
because of its support system as part of the
total program. His surgery was September
2013 and so far he has lost 177 pounds.
22 INSPIRE HEALTH March · April 2016
VITAL TO
WEIGHT
LOSS
By Linda Doell
For Michelle and Brian of East The lack of support is one of the main “Our recommendation to any
Greenville, trying to lose weight reasons people aren’t successful with individual who is interested in having
has been an on‑again, off‑again bariatric operations, says Leonardo weight loss surgery is to look for a
battle even before they married. Claros, MD, FACS, FASMBS, and St. Luke’s designated Center of Excellence,”
“I’ve had weight issues since high medical director of bariatric surgery. Claros says. “They should have board‑
school,” Michelle says. She tried diet certified and ideally formally fellowship‑
plans — one kept her at 1,000 calories “If the individual doesn’t have the trained bariatric surgeons. The center
— but nothing worked. By the time she necessary support after the surgery, should be a high volume center meaning
most of them will not succeed and they should be very used to performing
turned to laparoscopic gastric bypass eventually will end up regaining their these surgeries routinely and not
surgery at St. Luke’s University Health weight back,” he says. “This is exactly only every now and then. This kind
Network, she weighed 287 pounds. where a well‑established bariatric of experience has been scientifically
Since having the surgery in November program comes in to play. The support is validated so many times to decrease
2013, Michelle has lost 147 pounds. paramount in the post‑operative period.” the chance of potentially life threatening
complications that could result from the
“I’m literally half the size of the person For example, at St. Luke’s there is a surgeries otherwise.”
I was,” she says. team which works with patients after their
surgeries. That team includes dietitians, For Michelle and Brian, one of the
Brian tells a similar story: By the end of licensed behavioral health specialists, an biggest things they’ve both noticed
eighth grade, he weighed in for football occupational therapist, bariatric‑certified since losing the weight has been more
camp and the scale tipped over 200 pounds. nurses and a fellowship‑trained bariatrician, energy — enough stamina to keep
which is a doctor that specializes in weight up with their kids, ages 10 and 12.
“I was wearing a size 40 jeans,” he loss and the care of bariatric patients. And they’re teaching their children to
says. “That’s when I really realized I had follow what they’ve learned on their
weight issues.” “As a team, we work with our patients, weight‑loss journey.
monitoring their nutritional status,” Claros
After a car accident, Brian’s weight says. “We provide support meetings that “We don’t want them to go through
ballooned, and on his 39th birthday, he will continue to teach them about what the same things,” Michelle says.
weighed 377 pounds. Although he didn’t it is that they need to do to be successful.
have issues with weight‑related maladies We provide tools to allow them to cope Leonardo Claros, MD,
such as high blood pressure and diabetes, with stress eating and to avoid pitfalls FACS, FASMBS,
it was only a matter of time before he with holiday meals ... We emphasize and St. Luke’s
developed them. the fact that physical activity has to be medical director
incorporated into their daily lives.” of bariatric surgery.
“I was going to be a ticking time bomb,”
he says. “Everything was just snowballing in That support system is also a part of
my life ... I fought this battle on my own as the medical weight loss program at St.
long as I could. I was exhausted all the time.” Luke’s, led by Sagar V. Mehta, MD. A
team of health care professionals that
After researching his options and looking include a registered dietician, a behavioral
into other programs, both regionally and health specialist and others work with the
internationally, he chose St. Luke’s program patient to help make lifestyle changes.
because of its support system as part of the
total program. His surgery was September
2013 and so far he has lost 177 pounds.
22 INSPIRE HEALTH March · April 2016
