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News Post Holiday Diets Might Never Work for Some; Medical or Surgical Weight Loss Programs May Be Right Option
Post Holiday Diets Might Never Work for Some; Medical or Surgical Weight Loss Programs May Be Right Option
Published: Thursday, January 3, 2008
Fresh off the holiday overindulgence, people all across East Tennessee are now making that annual trek to the gym and rice cake aisle at their local supermarket in an attempt to shed those extra pounds. The people of this region won’t be alone in those efforts. The state of Tennessee ranks as the fifth most obese in the nation.
Obesity is now considered an epidemic in this country, as more than 40 million Americans are deemed as obese.
While exercising more and eating less are always the best steps in battling the bulge, for many people, those elements just simply aren’t enough. For those who’ve tried, and failed, repeatedly to lose excessive amounts of weight, medical weight loss plans or surgical options may be the appropriate avenue to pursue.
“When people think of someone who needs clinical help for their obesity, they imagine someone who is 800 pounds,” said Dr. Greg Mancini, medical director of the Tennessee Weight Loss and Surgery Center at The University of Tennessee Medical Center, which offers a comprehensive medically supervised weight loss program as well as surgical weight loss options. “In reality, though, obesity begins when a person is about 50 pounds overweight. Even modest weight gain can lead to obesity and create serious health problems.”
Some of the health problems associated with obesity, according to Mancini, include the following.
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Cardiac dysfunction
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Infertility
- Osteoarthritis
- Stress incontinence
For those who have struggled with obesity for much of their lives, the programs offered at UT Medical Center and the Tennessee Weight Loss and Surgery Center can be of significant help in enabling people to regain their health.
“People are just now beginning to realize the impact obesity has on their life and are looking for help,” Mancini said. “The obesity epidemic has mandated The University of Tennessee Medical Center to create a comprehensive weight loss center to include surgical, medical and research programs to serve the needs of our community.”
Adults who have repeatedly failed at dieting programs and have a body mass index of 40 or more (typically, those who are about 100 pounds or more overweight) are eligible for weight loss surgery. The Tennessee Weight Loss and Surgery Center offers two surgical weight loss options.
- Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery. In this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon sections off a portion of the stomach and reroutes part of the small intestines to the smaller section of the stomach. Typically, a patient returns home after two days in the hospital.
- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding. During this minimally invasive procedure, a prosthetic ring is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a smaller stomach pouch. The result is reduced stomach capacity, which restricts the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. Patients typically spend one day in the hospital after this procedure.
For those struggling with their weight and keeping a body mass index below 40, the Tennessee Weight Loss and Surgery Center’s comprehensive medically supervised weight loss program is a great option.
Some of the medical weight loss program options may include the following.
- Individualized health and weight loss needs assessment
- Dietitian consultations with individualized nutrition assessments and diet plans
- Frequent check-ups
- Behavior modification (realizing causes for overeating)
- Exercise education classes
- Health Management Resources (HMR®) meal replacement program
- Weight loss medications
The Tennessee Weight Loss and Surgery Center is holding free seminars about weight loss options at 10 a.m. Jan. 12 and 26 and at 7 p.m. Jan. 17, 22 and 29 in the Heart Lung Vascular Institute at UT Medical Center. Call 865.305.WELL to register for a seminar.
To learn more about the comprehensive assistance offered through the Tennessee Weight Loss and Surgery Center at UT Medical Center, call 865.305.WELL or visit online at www.utmedicalcenter.org/weightloss.
The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a 581-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, which serves as a referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The Medical Center, the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville. For more information about the University of Tennessee Medical Center, visit online at www.utmedicalcenter.org.