Top 5 weight loss treatments: Surgery, medications & more

Has becoming the healthiest version of yourself been on your mind recently? Maybe you’ve thought about trying a new workout program, eating a cleaner diet or shedding extra pounds. Or maybe you’ve been endlessly cycling through different fitness tools and weight-loss techniques but never see the results you want. You’re not alone. Whatever your health and weight-loss goals may be, Gundersen Health System is here to offer resources and solutions that can help you achieve success and improve your health and happiness.

Are weight loss treatments the right choice for me?

Many people struggle to lose weight with diet modification and exercise routines alone. That’s because there are many factors that can contribute to weight gain and obesity. Genetics, hormones, illnesses and medications, behaviors and the environment around us all can affect our weight and weight loss results. If you feel like you've run out of options and your weight is impacting your well-being, medical weight-loss treatments or surgery may be your missing tool. Gundersen’s experienced obesity medicine team of physicians, dieticians, exercise specialists, behavioral health providers and bariatric surgeons help people regain their health, and you could be next. Read on to learn more about Gundersen’s top 5 weight-loss treatments and consider which options may be best for you.

1. Weight-loss medications

Behavior and lifestyle modifications are at the core of all medical weight-loss treatments. Based on your medical and weight history, activity level, eating habits and dietary needs, prescription weight-loss medications may be an additional tool to help with weight loss. Some prescription weight-loss drugs work by making you feel fuller and controlling your appetite. Others change the way fat from your diet is absorbed into your body or improve your insulin resistance. Our experts can discuss FDA-approved weight-loss medication options, including injections and oral tablets, and make recommendations based on your body mass index (BMI) and health goals. Patients on prescription weight-loss medications typically lose 10 percent of their body weight within 6 months.

2. Bariatric surgery

For people with obesity who have struggled with less invasive weight-loss options, bariatric surgery is an effective and safe weight-loss treatment that helps support and sustain a healthy diet, lifestyle and weight. Today’s most common bariatric surgeries are the Roux en Y gastric bypass surgery and the gastric sleeve surgery, both of which are minimally invasive procedures that alter the stomach and digestive system. For people with a BMI above 35—or a BMI above 30 with other related health problems—bariatric surgery is often the most effective long-term treatment for weight loss. Gundersen patients typically lose about 72 percent of their excess weight by the end of the first year following their bariatric surgery, and many related health conditions, including diabetes, high-blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea, can be avoided, improved or completely resolved. Learn more about Gundersen’s accredited weight-loss surgery program by watching the free, informational Weight-Loss Surgery Seminar.

3. Nutrition counseling

Food can be one of the best tools for improving health and weight control, but not everyone knows how to properly fuel their body—even more so if a health condition requires special diet restrictions and limitations. Group or individual nutrition counseling with our registered dietitians can help get you on the right path. Together, you will develop a personalized plan that emphasizes nutrition, movement and coping strategies as you develop a healthy relationship with food. Meal planning can also be incorporated into dietician visits. Your provider may also recommend behavioral health, therapy, exercise physiology or other complementing resources at Gundersen. There is no BMI requirement for meeting with a dietician at Gundersen. Learn more about our personalized nutrition counseling services to help you achieve your nutrition goals.

4. Meal replacement programs

We’ve all seen meal replacement shakes and bars on the shelves of grocery stores, so you may be wondering how a medical meal replacement program is different. With the meal replacement program at Gundersen, a physician will supervise and guide you through a 3-phase program that helps you lose weight, develop healthy eating habits and maintain your weight loss. The program begins with daily meal replacement shakes, soups and bars that contain quality nutrients to nourish the body and have fewer calories than what you’d typically consume from a standard breakfast, lunch or dinner. During this weight-loss phase, the limited food distractions help you learn to recognize hunger and fullness cues. As you improve your eating patterns, you’ll transition from supplements back to balanced meals and snacks. And when your weight-loss goal is achieved, the final phase of the program is weight maintenance. Patients on the meal replacement program for weight-loss typically lose 10 to 15 percent of their body weight.

5. Intragastric balloons

The Orbera® Intragastric Balloon is a minimally invasive, non-surgical weight-loss treatment option. In combination with long-term lifestyle and eating modifications, the gastric balloon can be used by people with obesity who have a BMI of 30 or greater. During an outpatient procedure, a silicone balloon is inserted with a scope into the stomach. The intragastric balloon is then filled with saline until it’s about the size of a grapefruit. This temporary balloon implant helps limit your stomach capacity to make you feel full and reinforce portion control. After six months, the balloon is removed. The average weight loss for patients with the gastric balloon is about 10 percent of their body weight.

Which weight loss treatment is the best option for me?

Gundersen’s team of experts can work with you to answer any questions and help you discover the best treatments that fit your individual goals and life. Every person’s needs are different and not all treatments will be successful for everyone. We’re here to help you understand both non-surgical weight-loss and weight-loss surgery options to figure out the most effective solutions for you. Click here to start exploring your options or call 608-775-0055.