St. Bernardine Medical Center's weight loss services program has received the designation of Center of Excellence from the Surgical Review Corporation with The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. This helps ensure that patients will receive the highest levels of efficacy, efficiency and safety. This designation also provides detailed parameters on quality standards, a benchmark on best practices and compliance norms. In short, it helps those seeking weight loss surgery to live better, healthier and longer. It can help you.

Live better, healthier and longer

Obesity is a problem that affects more than 120 million American adults.  It also affects their social lives and their overall health. Obesity causes high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes and more.  The fact of the matter is obesity is a disease. That's why it is so important to understand that all current medical interventions, including weight loss surgery, should not be considered medical cures. However, weightloss surgery can help those who undergo the procedure to live a healthier, longer life.

The most common type of procedure is known as a gastric bypass RNY. Other types include various gastric banding procedures. According to the American College of Surgeons, bariatric weight loss surgery has shown to be extremely effective, with lasting weight reduction in the majority of morbidly obese patients when assessed five years after the operation. There are also additional health benefits that are gained by undergoing weight loss surgery.

It is important to remember that there are no ironclad guarantees in any kind of medicine or surgery. There can be unexpected outcomes in even the simplest procedures. What can be said, however, is that weight loss surgery will only succeed when the patient makes a lifelong commitment. To help patients achiever their goals and adapt to the changes surgery and weight loss can bring, most bariatric surgeons offer follow-up care that includes support groups, dieticians and other forms of continuing education.

Ultimately, the decision to have the procedure is entirely up to you. After having heard all the information, you must decide if the benefits outweigh the side effects and potential complications. This surgery is a tool, a starting point. Your ultimate success depends on strict adherence to the recommended dietary, exercise and lifestyle changes.

For more information on the next informational seminar to be held at St. Bernardine Medical Center, call 800.566.SBMC (7262) or 909.475.5040.