Weight Management for a Healthier You | Diet, Exercise, and When to Consider Weight Loss Surgery
When is it time to consider bariatric surgery? How can I manage my weight with diet and exercise? Get tips for healthy weight management from Eric Wilson, MD, in these excerpts from his recent 2 Your Well-Being discussion with WFMY News 2.
What are the health risks of not maintaining a healthy weight?
“When someone suffers from obesity, they're at increased risk for developing high blood pressure, joint or mobility concerns, diabetes, sleep apnea and even certain cancers.”
Besides surgery, what can I do to maintain a healthy weight?
“One thing to remember is that any weight gain didn't happen overnight. So, I think setting a realistic expectation that any weight loss will also take some time is important.”
“Working on your food choices first, starting with perhaps lean proteins and non-starchy vegetables and complex carbohydrates. And then, once you're consistent with that, then incorporating some type of physical activity such as walking, or if you have mobility challenges, then maybe some type of water therapy.”
Are weight loss medications a good option for weight management?
“I think one of the things to remember is that obesity is a disease, just like high blood pressure or diabetes. And we now have some very effective medications out on the market to help treat obesity in addition to surgery. But the takeaway message with these new medications is that they're meant to be long term. Generally, once the patient stops these medications, about two thirds of patients will experience some weight regain. So these medications are meant to be more chronic and long term.”
When should I consider weight loss surgery?
“You could consider it if you have demonstrated efforts for weight loss in the past, and then from an insurance perspective and medical perspective, if you have a BMI greater than 40 or a BMI greater than 35 with some health related issues due to obesity such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, reflux or mobility issues.”
“Patients who complete bariatric surgery or had bariatric surgery will experience a decrease or improvement in high blood pressure, improvement in diabetes, improvement in sleep apnea, reflux, and even decrease the chance of developing certain cancers.”
Weight Management for a Healthier You: Nyia's Story
Nyia Gravely is incredibly happy with her decision to choose bariatric surgery at Cone Health. Today, she's lost 60 pounds, she has more energy, and she walks 4 miles each day.
“The weight kind of melted off – literally!" Nyia says. "And one of the best parts is that I’m no longer pre-diabetic. I no longer depend on any medications – not any at all. I don’t have high blood pressure anymore. I’m so much healthier.”
Watch Nyia's full story.
Bariatric Surgery at Cone Health
Take control of your weight—and your well-being—with weight loss surgery at Cone Health. When you choose Cone Health for your surgery, you can be confident you’ll receive the highest-quality bariatric care. Learn more.
About the Expert
Eric Wilson, MD, is a surgeon in Greensboro, NC. Dr. Wilson's interests are primarily in all facets of minimally invasive general surgery (gallbladder, stomach, colon, hernia) with particular focus in weight loss surgery.
