4 / 16
Ready
togain
a new
you?
For many people,
the
new year brings a renewal of
weight-loss goals—whether
that means shedding a few
extra holiday pounds, getting in
shape for swimsuit season, or im-
proving overall health and well-
ness. But for some people, even
the best diet plans and exercise
regimens aren’t effective for los-
ing weight and keeping it off.
Sound familiar? If you are
overweight and struggle with
weight loss, bariatric surgery
may be an option. Brian C. Gary,
MD, a general surgeon with The
Jackson Clinic, offers a minimally
invasive laparoscopic vertical
gastric sleeve surgery that has
proved successful in helping
people lose weight.
About obesity
Obesity is a complex and
chronic metabolic disease. It oc-
curs when fat has accumulated to the
extent that a person’s health is impaired.
People with a body mass index (BMI)
of 30 or above are considered obese.
A variety of factors may contribute to
obesity, including genetic, environmental,
behavioral, psychological, physiological
and metabolic influences.
“Some people have all of those factors,
some people have a few, but they all
contribute to why we may be obese as a
nation,” Dr. Gary said.
Regardless of the cause, many serious
health conditions are related to obesity,
including pulmonary disease, nonal-
coholic fatty liver disease, gyneco-
logic abnormalities, osteoarthritis,
skin conditions, gout, depres-
sion, stroke, gastroesophageal
reflux disease, cardiometabolic
syndrome, severe pancreatitis,
cancer, phlebitis and even
premature death.
Bariatric surgery may lessen
the severity of many of these
conditions, and it can
also help patients
achieve increased self-
confidence and enhanced
productivity, giving them the
ability to spend more time on
physical activities. For those
who qualify and are willing to
make permanent choices that
lead to a healthier lifestyle, the
procedure can be lifesaving
and life-changing.
What is gastric
sleeve surgery?
In short, gastric sleeve surgery
removes a portion of the
stomach to create a new tube-
shaped stomach about the size
of a banana. With such a large
portion of the stomach gone,
patients feel full much faster
and thus consume less food.
“Now that we’ve seen the
success of the gastric sleeve
surgery over the last 10 years—
of its efficacy and safety—I believe it is a
good thing to bring to the people of our
city and the River Region,” said Dr. Gary.
Unlike gastric banding surgery, which
Bariatric surgery
4
JOIN THE JOURNEY Read Cindy’s blog about her weight-loss journey at Jackson.org/Cindy.