As New Year’s resolutions are made, losing 10 pounds is often at the top of the list. But for those with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more, losing weight isn’t just about fitting into a favorite dress or a smaller pair of jeans – it’s about getting off their diabetes medication or finally being able to run around with their kids. Many have tried fad diets or been yo-yo dieting with no long-term success. And with some people needing to lose 50 percent or more of their body weight, exercise can seem impossible.

To help patients lose weight and achieve total health, Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital offers surgical and non-surgical treatments, including laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery. “Surgery isn’t a quick fix,” says Vafa Shayani, MD, bariatric surgeon with Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital. “Overcoming obesity takes a lifetime commitment, no matter what steps you take to lose weight.”

The obesity epidemic
Almost a third of adults in the United States are obese. Excess weight affects almost every organ system in the body. In fact, obesity can cause heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint pain and more. Studies have shown that when individuals lose around 10 percent of their body weight from dieting, exercise programs and weight loss medications, they tend to regain two-thirds of the weight back within a year and all of it within five years.

“Many people regain the weight they’ve lost because they aren’t addressing the underlying issues that caused them to eat in the first place,” Dr. Shayani says. At Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, patients participate in a pre-surgery program to get to the root of their overeating. Here, psychologists and nutritionists walk patients through extensive psychological evaluations and analyze their eating habits and emotional issues. This individualized program also gives each patient a customized weight-loss plan after surgery and access to support groups throughout their journey.

How laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding works
Considered the least invasive and safest weight loss procedure available, surgeons use laparoscopy to place a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. The result is a disproportionate hourglass where only 10 percent of the stomach is above the band, so patients can only consume the equivalent of one-tenth of the overall capacity of their stomach.

Because the band restricts food intake, patients cannot physically eat more than about a cup of food at a time. Combined with a decreased appetite and slowed digestion, adjustable gastric banding surgery, on average, leads to a weekly loss of one to two pounds. Although most studies report an average of 40 percent loss in excess weight overall, many patients will reach their desired weight in two years or less.

“One of the biggest benefits of the band is that it can be easily adjusted,” Dr. Shayani says. “So when patients reach their goal weight, we can loosen the band and they can eat normally again.”

The ideal candidate for this procedure has a BMI of 35 or more with accompanying health issues, such as diabetes, or a BMI of 40 or more without health issues.

Scaling back
In addition to going through a major life change, patients will mentally transform as well – which may change their relationship to food. “People who thought about food day and night no longer have those obsessions,” Dr. Shayani says. “Their whole outlook on life changes because they are eating to live, not living to eat.”

At Adventist Midwest Health, the goal is for patients to be able to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle. “Maintaining a healthy weight has so many benefits – including a longer lifespan,” says Dr. Shayani. “There’s nothing more rewarding than helping patients reach their goals.