More than a third of American adults are considered obese, says the National Institutes of Health, so it is not surprising that bariatric surgery has received increased attention in recent years, as a recent article published on the Baltimore Business Journal explains. Of course, when it comes to weight loss, most people are familiar with the basic requirements of maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen. However, according to Dr. Christopher You, a medical director quoted in the article, “individuals who are severely obese are resistant to maintaining weight loss achieved by conventional therapies.” This means that, the more weight an individual with severe obesity needs to lose, the harder it can be to actually lose it, not to mention keeping the pounds off in the long-term. The article goes so far as to say that, keeping the weight off in the long-term is “nearly impossible for those affected by severe obesity by any means other than bariatric surgery.” This information jibes with the experiences of our former and current bariatric patients here at BHP, and highlights the reality that a great many people with severe obesity face – conventional weight loss methods are simply not effective in remedying the problem.  

Our highly experienced surgical team regularly performs a number of weight loss procedures that consistently help our patients improve their lives. One of these, the Lap Band procedure, is a minimally invasive procedure intended to help patients feel fuller faster than previously from smaller meals. As the patient loses weight, the band can be adjusted by a bariatric surgeon for comfort and effectiveness.  

Another weight loss procedure that is becoming increasingly popular is the gastric sleeve. This procedure involves removing a large portion of the stomach tissue, forming a sleeve-like shape that also reduces the stomach capacity. As an added benefit, the procedure curbs the release of the hunger hormones responsible for the “craving” sensation that compels many people with severe obesity to eat more, and more often, than they intend to.

For patients who are not considered severely obese, the Orbera gastric balloon, a temporary non-surgical procedure, is also available.