Millions of Americans fall into the category of clinically severe obesity—more than 100 pounds overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. Body mass index is a calculation of weight in relation to height. Bariatric surgery, either through gastric bypass or adjustable gastric banding surgery, has been endorsed by the National Institutes of Health as the only effective means of inducing significant long-term weight loss for the vast majority of patients with clinically severe obesity.
Five years after the procedure, many patients who have undergone bariatric surgery usually lose 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight. Long before that, complications of clinically severe obesity begin to resolve. Click to read about the medical conditions associated with severe obesity and how they may resolve.
Since 1999, NSMC surgeons have performed more than 600 bariatric procedures, making our program the largest and most successful program of its kind on the North Shore.
Following our program, patients have achieved dramatic results in both long-term weight loss and improved overall health. Our program encompasses a thorough evaluation process, a choice of surgical procedures (two of which use minimally invasive techniques) and an extensive post-operative program involving medically supervised cardiac risk reduction, nutrition, exercise, education and peer support.
If patients are not eligible for surgery, or decide it's not an appropriate option for them, NSMC is committed to helping them attain their weight loss and health goals through other measures. Through our Wellness and Integrative Medicine program we offer classes such as Beyond Dieting and the LEARN program for Weight Loss. The LEARN program was developed at Yale University by professionals in the areas of nutrition, exercise physiology and psychology, and is designed to help participants achieve permanent results. Beyond Dieting targets stress eating behaviors and is led by a Master's prepared Registered Dietitian. Email to learn about both classes.
Conditions Associated with Severe Obesity (Co-Morbidities)
Nearly 300,000 Americans die prematurely each year as a result of obesity-related complications, also known as co-morbidities.
- Type 2 adult onset diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart attacks
- Congestive heart failure
- Stroke
- Sleep apnea
- Asthma
- Low-back pain
- Urinary stress incontinence
- Severe acid reflux
Patients who undergo bariatric surgery report a new control over their diabetes; lowered blood pressure and total cholesterol; relief from sleep apnea, severe acid reflux and urinary stress incontinence; and eased low-back and osteoarthritis pain. Patients report improved mobility and their mood and self-esteem also improve. In fact, many patients with adult onset Type 2 diabetes find that their blood-sugar levels improve almost immediately and become completely normal within a year of surgery.
