Obesity

The number of overweight Americans currently stands at record levels. This increase in obesity in turn has created a population experiencing significant medical issues triggered or made worse by obesity like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and others. To counter and even prevent some of these problems, St. Bernards created the Center for Weight Loss. Whether you need to lose 10 pounds or 200, this is the place to start. We offer a number of options including a complete non-surgical, medically supervised weight and health management program, as well as elective weight loss surgery. Only you, together with your physician, can decide which alternative is right for you.

Did you know?

More than 34 percent of Americans are currently considered clinically obese, making obesity the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. While certainly a quality of life issue, morbid obesity is also a very complex medical disease with serious economic, social and psychological impacts. It is also the cause of a number of medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea and joint disease.

Non-Surgical Weight Loss

St. Bernards is pleased to present Health Management Resources (HMR®), the leading medically supervised weight loss program in the United States. Offered in major hospitals and medical centers across the country, more than 1 million participants have lost weight and learned the skills necessary for lifelong weight management through the program.

We offer an intensive, complete medically supervised program for accelerated weight loss, or a more moderate diet plan with minimal oversight by our weight loss professionals. Both programs focus on teaching lifestyle skills for weight management, increasing physical activity, eating right and improving overall health.

Medically Supervised Specifically designed for those who need to lose 30 pounds or more, this program strictly uses HMR meal replacement shakes, entrees and snacks in place of groceries. An initial comprehensive medical evaluation and ongoing follow-up is included.

Healthy Solutions This option promotes slower weight loss without direct medical supervision. Participants' diet will include HMR meal replacement shakes, entrees and snacks, but will also incorporate vegetables and fruits.

Surgical Weight Loss

At St. Bernards Center for Weight Loss Surgery, we perform the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, and the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Gastric Bypass combines two elements to produce long-term weight loss. First, it creates volume restriction which makes you feel full after eating small portions; and it also facilitates malabsorption by reducing the number of calories your body can absorb. This is an inpatient procedure that may be done using laparoscopic or traditional surgical techniques, and you should expect to spend two to three days in the hospital.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAP-BAND) induces weight loss by shrinking the capacity of the stomach which reduces the amount of food that can be consumed. This procedure is performed using a laparoscopic technique (through small incisions with a camera rather than a large open incision). A silicone band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a new, small stomach pouch that limits the amount of food you eat. Patients experience earlier sensation of fullness and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food. It also creates a small outlet that slows the emptying of food which helps you feel full longer. About six weeks after the band is placed, you will need a "fill" or "adjustment." This procedure is done as an outpatient, so there is no need to plan for a hospital stay.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive only procedure. It is restrictive in the sense that it limits the amount of food the stomach can hold. Two thirds of the stomach is removed leaving a tube shaped liked the "sleeve of a shirt". The portion of the stomach that is removed is the portion that makes the hormone Ghrelin. Ghrelin controls the appetite; by lowering the levels of this hormone feelings of hunger are also decreased. This procedure is performed laparoscopically, requiring a 1-2 day hospital stay.

St. Bernards offers continuous support and education before, during and after either surgery. To ensure a successful, comfortable experience for our surgical weight loss patients, we have invested in state-of-the-art surgical equipment and instrumentation in the operating room, and you will recover in specially designed bariatric suites with comfortably sized beds and furniture.

Are you a candidate for surgery?

Only your doctor can say for sure. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines individuals 100 pounds over their ideal weight, or having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater as "morbidly obese." Even if you have a BMI of 35 to 40, you may still be a candidate if you have significant medical complications from your obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or lung problems or sleep apnea.

Ask your physician for more information on any of the programs offered at St. Bernards Center for Weight Loss, or directly contact:

HMR Program Coordinator
Surgical Weight Loss Coordinator

870.336.LOSS (5677)

Copyright © 2008 St. Bernards Medical Center for Weight Loss Some of the material used in this site is owned by Health Management Resources™ Corporation (HMR®) of Boston, Massachusetts, and is used with its permission. Click on the Notices and Disclaimer link for more specific information about the relationship of HMR and this site and other important information