Weighing Your Weight Loss Options
By Michelle Fusco
About two in five U.S. adults are obese, with more than nine percent being severely obese (body mass index of 40 or higher), according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment strategies for obesity include healthy nutrition, routine exercise, medications, surgery, and therapy for people struggling with certain behaviors.
Medications
The drug semaglutide (brand names Ozempic® and Wegovy®) is approved to control blood sugar (glucose) for people with type 2 diabetes. It is an injection taken once weekly. It also slows digestion, helping people to feel fuller and suppresses appetite. It has become a popular prescription for weight loss. The average weight loss expectation for people taking semaglutide is about 15 percent of their body weight. “Medication may be a good option for example for someone who weighs 250 pounds, if they want to lose about 35 pounds,” said Dr. Arthur Carlin, a bariatric surgeon with Henry Ford Health. “It all comes down to what your weight loss goals are.” Carlin shared that many people don’t tolerate higher doses of the medicine well due to side effects like nausea. Patients also will need to continue taking the medication to prevent regaining the weight.
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a type of metabolic and weight-loss surgery. There are different types of surgery, including gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. Patients typically spend a day or two in the hospital and return to usual activities within a week or two. The surgery is covered by most insurance companies. With bariatric surgery, the weight loss expectation is about 30 percent of total body weight. “Bariatric surgery is a better option for someone interested in losing more weight than with medication. For example, the average weight loss after bariatric surgery is about 75 pounds for someone who weighs 250 pounds,” said Carlin. The benefits of bariatric surgery are more than just cosmetic. High blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, diabetes, liver disease and other medical conditions are all positively impacted through metabolic changes and weight loss. “There are so many quality-of-life improvements,” said Carlin. “Most patients a year after surgery say it’s the best thing they’ve ever done and only wish they’d done it sooner.” Dr. Carlin helped to develop a free application, MBSC Weigh the Odds, through a statewide quality improvement collaborative. It includes an outcomes calculator that uses statistical analysis of height, weight, age, gender and medical conditions to estimate average outcomes of bariatric surgery using data from 125,000 Michigan patients. “The average life extension with bariatric surgery is 9 to 10 years for patients with diabetes or 5 years for patients without diabetes,” shared Dr. Carlin. Any weight loss plan must include a healthy diet and exercise for lasting results. Dr. Carlin advises to look for multidisciplinary weight loss programs that include nutrition counseling, healthy lifestyle education and support components before proceeding with surgery to optimize long-term success.
To find a doctor or learn more about the Henry Ford Health Weight Management program, visit henryford.com/services/weight-loss or call 1 (866) 326-6790.
