OBESITYISONEOF themostcommon chronic conditions in the United States. It’s also one of the most undertreated. “Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of stigma around obesity, and that can be a barrier to treatment,” said Dr. Justin Hsu, a fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon at The University of Toledo Medical Center. “Obesity is not a lifestyle choice. It’s not a behavioral issue. It’s a multifactorial chronic disease, and it needs to be treated as such.”
UTMC takes a judgement- free, collaborative approach to weight management, offering minimally invasive bariatric surgery methods and the latest weight-loss medications alongside individualized nutritional and exercise counseling to ensure patients can meet—and maintain—their weight loss goals.
Physicians and public health officials have long been concerned about rising obesity rates in America. The latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults are overweight, with more than 40% fitting the definition of clinical obesity.
The concern, said Dr. Yara Tovar, a University of Toledo endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist, are the various health problems associated with the weight. “This isn’t just cosmetic, and the goal of bariatric medicine is not only to help you lose weight. It’s to improve your health,” she said. “There are so many conditions obesity is linked to. Obesity can be a serious threat to your overall health.”
Obesity can increase an individual’s risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke. It’s also strongly linked to sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and an increased risk of several types of cancer. At UToledo, patients have access to multiple primary-care providers who are trained in bariatric medicine, bariatric surgeons, and endocrinologists who specialize in metabolic disorders. Working closely together, these providers develop an individualized plan to meet each patient’s specific needs. “Obesity is a complex disease, and that’s the reason we have a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team approach to treating it,” Hsu said. “There are so many different causes, so many different reasons someone may be affected by obesity. Our team looks at every patient as an individual to develop the best treatment plan for them.”
For some patients, a combination of diet, exercise, and medication may be enough to get their weight to a healthy level. For other patients—particularly those who have a body mass index of 40 or more or have co-existing obesity-related health conditions like diabetes or hypertension—surgery may be the best option.
The team at UTMC will start by discussing a patient’s previous attempts and successes at losing weight alongside their weight-loss goals. They also walk patients through what to expect from treatment and the benefits and risks associated with surgery or medication. They can help patients understand and navigate their insurance coverage as well.
“Surgery or medication is a decision we make together with the patient. It’s not uncommon for patients to try medication first. They may have good results and be satisfied just with the bariatric medicine, or they may choose to have the surgery later,” Tovar said. “The important thing is that we put together a comprehensive weight-management plan. We recognize obesity as a chronic disease, so our therapies and our interventions are targeted to treat it that way.”
Though diet and exercise alone are rarely enough for lasting weight loss in patients with chronic obesity—Hsu says the best most patients can do is lose about 10% of their baseline weight—they are critical parts of that comprehensive plan. “I tell patients surgery is only a small part. It’s a tool,” he said. “Surgery will change that set point where the body believes its weight is supposed to be. But they still have to do the hard work in terms of diet and exercise. Surgery won’t work without diet and exercise.”
Bariatric patients at UTMC are offered referrals to the University’s Exercise is Medicine On Campus program, where they receive six 30-minute training sessions with a certified fitness professional. Those sessions, which can be completed at the Student Recreation Center on Main Campus or the Morse Fitness Center on Health Science Campus, help patients find a starting point for exercise and provide them the skills and knowledge they need to continue independently.
UTMC also has a dedicated clinical dietician for bariatric patients who can help them decipher ingredient labels, plan meals, and establish healthy eating habits. Patients also are invited to join a support group in which they can meet monthly with other individuals who have undergone weight loss surgery.
“The key things we want people to know are that obesity is not a choice and that we offer comprehensive care for our patients,” Hsu said. “Whether it’s medical therapy or surgery, we’re looking into multiple components and our patients have access to a full team of specialists who are there to help. We’re going to be with our patients every step of the way.”
Patients considering surgery can join a free, one-hour orientation seminar to learn more about nutrition, obesity, and surgical options available at UTMC. Individuals can call 419-3834399 to register for the seminar or to get more information about UTMC’s weight-management offerings.
Tyrel Linkhorn is a communications specialist at The University of Toledo. ✲
