Page 8 - Valley Life & Health

8 SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2019 THE MORNING CALL
■ Health

A multi-disciplinary

individualizedweightloss
approach to

Easton Hospital and Lehigh Valley Weight Loss provide comprehensive

weight loss programs backed by interventional medicine

ometimes it seems like everyone is on a diet. the bariatric journey with the surgical division for right method and mode of weight management
More than half of Americans report that they operative and post-operative care. that best suits them.
Swant to lose weight – and yet an estimated 160 “This was the first comprehensive program It all starts the day that they walk in the door to
million Americans are either overweight or obese. for bariatric surgery in the Valley. Since then, we’ve see their doctor – and the aim from day one is not
One key reason that so many efforts fail? Many treated more than 2,000 patients. And while Easton to discuss surgery. Instead, the conversation
weight loss programs focus on aesthetics and Hospital is a relatively small hospital, there is a lot of begins by talking about life events that led to
fail to tackle the problems of disease prevention stress on one-on-one patient care and one-on-one the weight gain. Circumstances often include
or treatment for diabetes, high blood pressure, patient interaction with the surgeons,” says Vinay pregnancy, divorce, depression, stress, addiction or
heart disease, and other ailments associated Singhal, MD, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery substance abuse, or other behavioral changes.
with obesity. There is a true gap between where at Easton Hospital, who oversees the program “The aim is to recognize – not just to do
medicine and bariatrics meet, and many patients along with Artun Aksade, MD. “It’s very much a surgery and get on with it. The aim is also to
get caught up in programs that do not take an family-oriented approach and a friendly approach find out what problems this person is having
individualized approach to their weight loss goal. with one-to-one care, which is relatively different due to their excess weight,” says Dr. Singhal.
Each of us has a unique set of factors – from some other programs.” “There are some people who may carry excess
among them are metabolism, hormone balance, weight and don’t have any problems. But if they
nutritional status, and genetic makeup – and The weight loss journey have uncontrolled diabetes or blood pressure,
lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, self-care, Successful weight management takes a true or if they are having difficulty breathing or aren’t
sleeping habits and stress management that can lifetime commitment in order to have long- getting a good night’s sleep, what is the root
all interact with those variables. term, lasting effects on your overall health. cause? We talk about what things will get better
Back in 2003, Easton Hospital realized that a With each patient having individual needs and if they lose weight.”
truly successful weight loss program could not be different influences, Easton Hospital’s weight loss Another goal is to educate the patient that just
developed with a one-size-fits-all approach. For professionals work with patients to discover the losing weight is not enough, and that their journey
the last 15 years, they have offered an intensive, is about making a true lifestyle change. If a patient
multi-component behavioral intervention comes in who smokes or drinks too much, making
program that combines the medical division for sure they are rehabilitated prior to beginning the