Learn more about SCL Health's Nutrition and Weight Loss and Bariatrics services.

If weight is an issue for you, the world of bariatrics can be daunting. At a baseline, bariatrics is the medical field that treats obesity. Maybe you know about weight loss surgery, but how does it work? Are there non-surgical options? And are they successful?

Bariatrics can be a difficult topic, but the experts at Intermountain Health are here to help. Katayun Irani, MD, and Theresa Sanders, NP, from Lutheran Weight Loss Center provide you answers in the clips below.

What is bariatric surgery?

Key Takeaway: Bariatric surgery involves techniques that reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold. In turn, the body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients, resulting in weight loss.

What are the different types of weight loss surgeries?

Key Takeaways: We offer several proven bariatric procedures if you need to lose a significant amount of weight. Our surgeons and staff are experts in these procedures and are happy to discuss which solution is right for you. Some options could include:

• Adjustable gastric banding – Reduces food intake by placing a band around the top of the stomach, then tightening and loosening the stomach opening as needed
• Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) – Restricts food intake by removing a portion of the stomach so you feel full quickly and reduces the number of calories and nutrients the body absorbs by rerouting a portion of the small intestine.
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass – Restricts food intake and decreases how food is absorbed by creating a small stomach pouch and bypassing the flow of food around the rest of the stomach to the small intestine.
• Sleeve gastrectomy – Decreases stomach size and movement to restrict food intake. This procedure also is called gastric sleeve, vertical gastrectomy, or gastric reduction.

What are the average results you see in patients?

Key Takeaway: Patients can expect to lose about 50 to 90 pounds in the first year. Most weight loss occurs in the first six months.

What would you tell potential patients who are thinking about pursuing weight loss surgery?

Key Takeaway: There is a hormonal reason why some people are overweight, and that has to do with gut hormones that tell you you’re hungry. These hormones adjust your metabolism and even give you the energy to exercise. These hormones change after surgery and patients can keep weight off because of this change to the gut hormones.

What is medical weight loss?

Key Takeaway: Our medical weight loss programs offer comprehensive and customized non-surgical weight loss options. Using a combination of medication, nutrition, and education, we can provide a safe and effective weight loss program to help you lose weight.

What are the requirements for medical weight loss?

E

Key Takeaway: The requirements of medical weight loss are to have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or above, or 27 or above with an obesity comorbidity.

On average, how much weight do patients lose through this program?

Key Takeaway: The average weight loss is 8-10% of their total body weight. Every patient is different and weight loss is not easy. Most of the patients that are successful are working very hard and they are very dedicated to making long-term lifestyle changes.

What should patients know about this program who are considering medical weight loss?

Key Takeaway: It can be difficult to discuss weight and there are many misconceptions about obesity. Obesity is a complex and chronic disease, and it needs to be treated just as seriously as the other chronic diseases.

Ready to start your own weight transformation? Learn more about our weight loss and bariatric services at Intermountain.