You At Your Best

sPecial to nwa Democrat-Gazette One of the most common resolutions for the New Year includes losing weight. But for many, the reasons are more than cosmetic. Obesity is a national challenge in the U.S. with Arkansas having the seventh highest adult obesity rate in the nation at 35%. The state also has the 20th highest obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17. People who are overweight and obese are at significantly greater risk for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea and other diseases and disorders. But thousands of lives have been changed for the better through bariatric (or weight loss) surgery. More than 6,000 bariatric surgeries have been performed at Northwest Health, at which the region's only fellowship-trained group of surgeons practices. Bariatric or weight loss surgery often results in major improvement or even complete remission of diabetes as well as significantly reducing the risk of other diseases, according to Dr. Joshua Roller, Medical Director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at Northwest Health. Bariatric surgery works by limiting how much food you can comfortably eat or by preventing your body from absorbing food and calories… or sometimes both. Candidates for weight loss surgery will have a BMI of 40 or more, or have a BMI of 35 to 39.9 along with serious obesity- related health problems. To calculate your BMI, visit NorthwestHealth.com/weight loss. Kelly Pohl lost 135 pounds during the year following her surgery. "I had a lot of health issues at a young age, including diabetes. In fact, my father passed away from complications of diabetes. I also had high cholesterol, severe sleep apnea and I wanted to have baby but I couldn't." After Dr. Roller performed her surgery at Northwest Health Physicians' Specialty Hospital, Kelly said she was able to go off of several medications and she started noticing a difference in her energy levels within the month. And, her cravings for sugar were gone immediately following the surgery. "I'm in good health now, and my previous health issues (related to obesity) are completely resolved," she said. Even better, Kelly was able to get pregnant without fertility treatments, following her weight loss. Daughter Kacie is now six and in kindergarten. "I'm able to keep up with my husband, who is very active, and with my daughter. I have the energy to go somewhere on weekends and I don't want to come home from work and just go to bed anymore. There's nothing better than going to the park and playing with my daughter." Brenda Hudson, RN, who lost 70 pounds after her surgery, got to go off of her diabetes medications shortly after Dr. Joshua Morout performed her surgery at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale. She also got to go off of her meds for high blood pressure and cholesterol as well. "I feel great! It has changed my life. I can walk now." In her job as an RN in the Preop Holding Unit at Northwest Medical Center- Springdale, she interacts with patients coming in for bariatric surgery. "I tell them I had it and how my life has changed for the better." Bariatric surgical procedures are typically performed laparoscopically during which several small incisions are made in the abdominal wall instead of one, large incision as with traditional surgery. Because the procedure is less invasive, studies show that patients experience less pain after surgery, have a shorter hospital stay, and recover faster. Other benefits include less risk of complications such as infection and hernia. Not all patients are candidates for laparoscopic surgery; patients must be evaluated individually to see if this is an option for them. The weight loss surgery programs at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale and Northwest Health Physicians' Specialty Hospital are accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Additionally, Northwest Medical Center- Springdale has just become Arkansas' first hospital to earn national accreditation for adolescent weight loss surgery. For more information or to speak privately with a bariatric surgery coordinator, call 479-757-2040 or visit www.NorthwestHealth.com/weightloss. Become a new you in the new year Weight loss surgery offers new hope Kelly Pohl before and after. 4 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST JAnUARY - nEw YEAR'S RESOlUTiOnS | SATURdAY, dEcEmBER 29, 2018

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