Obesity Diagnosis and Treatment Offered at Mercy in Baltimore
The Maryland Bariatric Center at Mercy offers comprehensive and personalized treatment for obesity. Mercy’s bariatric surgeons help patients determine the best weight loss treatment they need to regain their health and transform their quality of life.
Obesity is a complex condition caused by an excessive amount of body fat. Being overweight or obese means your body weight is considered higher than what is healthy for your height.
An unhealthy weight can lead to several obesity-related health problems, many of which can be life-threatening. It can also contribute to joint pain and diminish quality of life by limiting the ability to participate in enjoyable activities.
The health risks of obesity include:
- Heart disease and strokes
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Digestive problems
- Back and joint pain
There are many reasons why some people struggle with obesity. Usually, obesity results from a combination of inherited factors, lifestyle, and personal diet and exercise choices.
Factors contributing to obesity include:
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Inactivity
- Some medications
- Depression or mental health problems
- Genetics and family history
- Age and hormonal changes
- Certain diseases such as hypothyroidism
Weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity. Dietary changes, increased physical activity and lifestyle changes can help you lose weight. Prescription medications and surgical weight loss procedures are additional options for treating obesity.
Obesity is diagnosed when your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher.
Waist size can also help diagnose obesity. A waist measurement more than 40 inches for men, or 35 inches for women may have a higher risk of health problems from obesity.
At The Maryland Bariatric Center at Mercy, our comprehensive and supportive process will guide you through the steps to diagnose your condition, and determine your best treatment options. We partner with dietitians, psychologists and other Mercy specialists to help patients make an informed decision.
Weight loss surgeries may be appropriate when diet and exercise haven't worked or when you have serious health problems because of your weight.
How Bariatric Surgery Helps
Bariatric weight loss surgical procedures make changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight by:
- Limiting how much you can eat at one time
- Reducing the amount of food absorbed
- Causing hormonal changes that lower appetite
Types of Weight Loss Surgery
Mercy Medical Center offers the latest, most effective weight loss surgical procedures. Our experienced bariatric surgeon will first help you determine if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, and which one is right for you.
- Gastric Bypass Surgery (Roux-en-Y) – shrinks the size of your stomach, using staples to create a small pouch. The surgeon will also re-route, or bypass, part of your digestive system so you don't absorb as many calories.
- Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve Surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy) – removes 80% of the stomach, creating a long slender pouch (or sleeve) that limits the amount you can eat.
- Revisional Bariatric Surgery – performed as a follow-up to a previous gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery when a patient is gaining back weight or experiencing complications such as an ulcer, chronic heartburn, or an obstruction.
All forms of weight loss surgery are major procedures that can pose serious risks and side effects. It is important to understand that you must make permanent, healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle, and get regular exercise to help ensure the long-term success of bariatric surgery.