As the obesity epidemic in this country continues, we need to find new options to help people achieve healthy, active lifestyles. Bariatric surgery can offer positive, life-changing results for many people. But what if a person isn’t a candidate for surgery or would prefer an alternative?

“Some people don’t weigh enough, others may have too many health problems and still others just may not be interested in surgery,” explains Sandy Wiita, bariatrician at Park Nicollet Bariatric Surgery Center. Regardless of the circumstance, patients who come to Park Nicollet can get help taking off the weight – and keeping it off. Through personalized care, a trend known as weight management, provides solutions that some people may not have been able to achieve on their own.

Medical weight management
The concept of medical weight management is exactly how it sounds – a doctor-monitored weight-loss program. It starts with a complete physical exam. From there, personalized diet and exercise plans are developed, and patients are taught behavior modifications that can help them lose weight. Behavior modifications can be as simple as altering diets to decrease carbohydrates and increasing proteins. Daily exercise and other personalized modifications are identified for each patient.

In this new Park Nicollet program, patients will find these individual plans often yield some uplifting results. “As patients lose weight, they are more likely to exercise. Because they have more energy and less aches and pains, self-esteem tends to improve,” Dr. Wiita adds. Studies indicate mental health effects of obesity can be just as damaging as the physical effects.

Dr. Wiita and her team will help patients explore valuable weight-management questions.

• What types of food do you crave?
• What triggers your eating?
• How many carbohydrates do you eat each day?
• How much protein do you eat each day?
• What is your daily vitamin D intake?
• How can you start to incorporate 30 minutes of exercise in your day?
• Are you getting enough sleep?

Are hormones a factor?
A common struggle for people trying to lose weight is that their hormones get out of balance. Combined with sleep apnea, patients may be caught in a vicious cycle. “When people are tired, their hormones can cause them to feel hungry, which makes them eat more food than they need,” Dr. Wiita explains. Hormones that normally signal hunger or fullness start to malfunction when you don’t get proper sleep.

Fueling the body
Instead of a no-carb approach, Dr. Wiita recommends a high-protein diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. This provides natural carbohydrates to fuel the body. She also encourages patients to avoid sugary beverages (soda and juice) which can spike blood sugar and cause people to feel tired when they “crash” from the sugar high. Food journals help patients and their caregivers see what they are actually eating and drinking throughout the day. “From there, we can identify problems with their diets and give them pointers for eating better,” adds Dr. Wiita.

The program also will include working with the team to maintain the weight loss. “That is where many diets fail,” Dr. Wiita explains. “Our program won’t be just a diet; it will be about developing healthy lifestyles patients use to control their obesity for the rest of their lives.”

Dr. Wiita is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, which is a nationally recognized group of physicians who have specialized training in treating obesity. Until now, Dr. Wiita has used medical weight management as a follow-up to bariatric surgery. “But not all patients are surgical candidates,” Dr. Wiita reiterates. “That’s why we are developing the nonsurgical medical weight management program. We want to serve the needs of those patients, too. We want to help improve their health.”

How to enroll
The medical weight management program at Park Nicollet is launching in spring of 2010. Eligible patients must have a strong desire to make lifestyle changes and be committed to attending regular appointments during the active weight-loss and maintenance phases of the program. To learn more about the program or to enroll, call 952-993-3180. Learn more about bariatric surgery at parknicollet.com/bariatric