Life-Changing Weight Loss

Baylor Southwest opens weight management and surgery program

Millions of Americans battle weight problems that affect not only their self-esteem but also their health. Baylor All Saints Medical Centers hopes to change that with a new weight management and surgery program.

"Obesity is a huge medical problem, costing billions of dollars. It's not that people who are obese can't lose weight, it's that they can't maintain it," says Todd McCarty, M.D., medical director of the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas weight loss surgery program, now offered at Baylor Southwest, and a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Dallas.


Losing Options
"The new Baylor Southwest program gives people who need help managing their weight two options," says Jon Skinner, executive director of Baylor Southwest. One is a medically supervised, 12-week, nonsurgical weight-management class that includes education on nutrition, exercise, lifestyle changes and group support.

The second is the weight-loss surgery program, offering laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic band and laparoscopic revision of previous weight-loss surgery.

"Not everyone is medically quali- fied for weight-loss surgery or is ready to take that step. Instead they can attend a medically supervised group class," says Julie Parrott, M.S., R.D., L.D., program manager.

Faye David, M.D., an internal medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor Southwest, provides medical direction for the weightmanagement portion of the program. Dr. McCarty provides medical direction for the surgery program in affiliation with Gregory Barnes, M.D., a surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Southwest.

"The goal is to help people in our community improve their health, reduce the number of medications they require, increase their activity level and enhance their overall quality of life," says Elizabeth Steger, Baylor Southwest vice president of nursing.

Weight Loss Winners
Who is a good candidate for the weight-loss surgery program? "Someone who is 100 pounds or more overweight, has medical complications due to obesity and many failed attempts at weight loss, understands the risk of surgery and is motivated to make it work," Dr. McCarty explains. People interested in weight-loss surgery are required to attend an information session, which is offered once each month.

By Janan Talafer

For more information about the Baylor Medical Weight Management Lifestyle Program or the Weight Loss Surgery Program, please call (817) 370-5999.