OUR APPROACH:

 

     Our approach to management of Obesity and associated Metabolic Disease is comprehensive by nature.  Obesity is a complex, multifactorial chronic disease and, therefore, is not generally “cured” by a single medical or surgical intervention alone.  Similar to the approach to any other chronic disease, a multidisciplinary team with a coordinated treatment program is necessary.  metaHEALTH, our program, extends beyond the surgery to provide all the tools and support available and necessary for you to reach your goal.

 

     The formula for weight loss is relatively simple:  ENERGY OUTPUT > ENERGY INPUT = WEIGHT LOSS.  When the energy expended during daily activities is greater than the energy in the food you eat, the fat reserves are used or burned to meet your body’s caloric or energy needs.  Thus, a reduction in calorie intake and/or increase in physical activity will result in weight loss.  The major components of a comprehensive and healthy weight-loss program are illustrated in the accompanying diagram.

 

 

                            

 

 

     We have assembled a comprehensive team to provide you with the support and tools you will need to be successful not only in weight loss, but in changing your life.  We believe there are many tools and approaches to weight management and are prepared to help all patients with health issues related to obesity. 

 

     Obesity is not a new phenomenon in the U.S., though now it is receiving the attention it deserves due to the epidemic increase in both childhood and adult obesity rates.  John F. Kennedy appreciated the problem during his short presidential tenure in the 1960’s and emphasized fitness tests and programs in American schools.  History repeats itself, and we are again trying to change school programs and attitudes towards obesity.  According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of 20 percent or more above your “ideal body weight” is the point at which excess weight becomes a health risk.  Today, approximately two-thirds of the adult population suffers from weight-related health conditions, and an estimated 13 million of those are suffering from morbid obesity.  Obesity becomes “morbid” when it reaches the point of increasing the risk of developing serious health conditions, physical disability, poor quality of life, and even early death.

 

     For many years the predominant belief was that being overweight was generally a failure of willpower – simply not having the discipline to exercise, keep from overeating, or both.  While certain factors leading to obesity can be in one’s control, other factors may simply be attributed to nature.  Researchers are just beginning to understand the genetic component of obesity and have now identified more than 200 genes and gene markers that contribute to human obesity.  Genetics provides the body with very sophisticated built-in mechanisms to prevent significant loss of fat stores (the primary energy source for the body), in other words, weight loss.  Our environment, which provides abundant and relatively cheap, and highly caloric, food sources and labor-saving devices as well as busy (sedentary) lifestyles, combines with genetic factors to lead to weight gain and obesity.  Morbid obesity is a true chronic disease, associated with numerous medical conditions or comorbidities, requiring long term treatment.  The list of health conditions directly related to obesity is quite long and includes:

 

                           

• Coronary heart disease                          Gout        
• Hypertension                                        Hypoventilation syndromes
• Stroke                                                 Endometrial 
• High Cholesterol  
• Congestive heart failure                         Depression
• Type 2 diabetes                                    Cholelithiasis/gallstones
• Prediabetes                                          Degenerative joint disease
• Astma                                                 Cancers
• Sleep apnea                                            Colon
• Dyslipidemia                                            Kidney
• Infertility                                                 Gall bladder
• Gastroesophogeal reflux disease                Breast 
•                                                                                            

 

                                  Geese:

 

         This story exemplifies our approach to patient care:  

 

 

                                   

 

 

                                                                    The Sense of Geese                             

  

            There is an aeronautically sound reason that geese fly in a "V" formation.  As each bird flap its wings, it creates an uplift for birds immediately following.  By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.  The birds in front

help break the resistance of birds that follow.

            Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go alone and quickly gets back into formation.   Basic Truth #1--people who share a common direction and sense of community get where they are going more quickly and easily when they are traveling on the thrust of one another. 

            When the lead goose gets tired, he or she rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.  Basic Truth #2--whether you are leading or following, be willing to take turns performing difficult jobs.

            When geese bank from behind, it is to encourage the lead geese to keep up the speed.  Basic Truth #3--realizing that lead jobs are often hard ones and that one day you may be asked to take the lead, be careful what you say when you work from behind.

            If a goose gets sick or is wounded and must fall from formation, two geese follow to help and protect.  These geese stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly again or until it is dead.  If the fallen goose is able to fly again, they launch on their own in formation or catch up to their

group.  Basic Truth #4--We must stay by each other in sickness and in health--when things go well and when things aren't going well.  You can't travel on the thrust of others "alone."

            Moral of the story:   If only we had the sense of geese, we would know that the greatest thing we have to hold onto in this world is each other.