Weight Loss Success with Bariatric Surgery
Q. Am I a candidate for weight loss surgery?
A: Obesity surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, although the pounds do not come off by themselves. The surgery is an aid to help achieve lasting results by limiting your food intake, mainly by reducing hunger when you eat correctly. Individuals may be candidates if they meet the NIH Guidelines for morbid obesity surgery. This will be determined at your evaluation with one of our bariatric surgeons. Additionally, patients with complex medical conditions and limited mobility increase the surgical risks; patients are thoroughly evaluated and considered on a patient-by-patient basis. Weight loss surgery can offer successful long-term improvement in medical conditions such as cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, joint disease and sleep apnea. The National Institute of Health has endorsed surgical weight loss as an effective method for the treatment of morbid obesity.
Q. How much weight will I lose? Will the weight loss be quick?
A: The data at three years indicates that 65 to 75 percent of excess body weight is lost with the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy procedure. Resolution of conditions is relative to the amount of weight lost. In our program, the average patient loses between 68 to 78 percent of excess body weight. The amount of weight loss also depends on your age, gender, starting body mass index and your ability to adhere to lifestyle changes necessary to make surgery a success. ■
If you are interested in weight loss surgery, please call St. Joseph Surgical Associates at 816-941-2222. We will schedule an evaluation with a physician where you will learn more about our program and weight loss surgery options.
Written by: Dr. Christopher Cummings
Christopher T. Cummings, DO, is a general surgeon with St. Joseph Surgical Associates. He completed his post-doctoral training at OSF St. Francis Medical Center/Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, Illinois. He takes special interest in minimally invasive weight loss surgery, including both laparoscopic and robotic techniques. He is trained in the latest technology, including robotic inguinal and ventral hernia repair, and to treat diseases of the foregut (reflux) and colon using robotic surgery. When not busy with general surgery, Dr. Cummings enjoys spending time with his wife, who is currently a neonatal-perinatal medicine Fellow at Children’s Mercy Hospital and their two-year-old son, Benjamin.
