Weight Loss Surgery Proven to Help Those Struggling with Excess Body Fat - Archived

Bardstown, Ky. (September 18, 2019) – More than one in three Kentucky adults are classified as obese. This condition is linked to serious medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and joint pain, among others. Individuals struggling with an obesity-related condition, who have a body mass index of 35 or above, and those who have had difficulty losing weight through diet and exercise, may be a candidate for weight loss surgery.

“It’s important to maintain a healthy weight to prevent serious illnesses,” said Robert Farrell, MD, CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group – Weight Loss and Surgery in Bardstown. “Obesity is a disease that affects every system in the body. When an individual can’t seem to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, weight loss surgery is often an option to put them on a path to a healthier lifestyle.”

Flaget Memorial Hospital invites those struggling with excess body weight to learn more about the benefits of weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery programs at CHI Saint Joseph Health offer free, educational seminars. Patients also have access to a team of providers, including a registered dietitian, health psychologist and exercise physiologist.

“Surgery is just one part of the process for weight loss,” said Dr. Farrell. “Patients must also commit to lifestyle changes to successfully attain and maintain a healthy weight.”

The Center for Weight Loss Surgery at Flaget Memorial Hospital offers a full range of weight loss surgery options. Board-certified physicians perform hundreds of procedures each year, using the latest minimally invasive techniques.

“I’ve been thinking about it for 10 years or more, but something always stopped me from doing it,” said Laura Pollard, 43, of Elizabethtown. When she was unable to fasten her bra, Pollard made the decision to attend a seminar offered by Flaget. “It was one of those situations where everything fell into place at the right time.”

She weighed 355 pounds at the seminar in March 2018, and had lost 36 pounds by her surgery in July 2018. A little more than a year later, she is down to 177 pounds.

“There were so many things I didn’t expect,” she said. “I expected the numbers to go down to be able to wear smaller clothes. But my whole outlook has changed. I’m way more confident in my skin, more outgoing … just completely way more confident.”

While she didn’t have obesity-related health issues, Pollard said she believes those would have come down the road.

“Weight loss surgery is proven to be significantly more effective in treating chronic obesity, compared to non-surgical methods of weight loss,” said Dr. Farrell. “Those who undergo weight loss surgery are also shown to have fewer cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack or stroke.

The Center for Weight Loss Surgery offers several different surgical options to consider, including gastric bypass, gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy.

• Gastric bypass procedure limits the number of calories the body can absorb by rerouting the digestive tract to bypass the stomach.
• Adjustable gastric banding involves a technique in which an adjustable ring is placed on the stomach that limits the amount of food the body can hold. This causes the patient to feel full sooner during meals and reduces cravings between meals.
• The sleeve gastrectomy procedure also reduces the size of the stomach, making the patient feel full for a longer period.
• The SIPS – Stomach Intestinal Pylorus Sparing – surgery is a hybrid approach using key components of the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures.
• Duodenal switch is similar to the SIPS procedure, requiring a division of the small bowel.

Individuals considering weight loss surgery should consult with their primary care provider to determine if surgery is right for them.

For more information about weight loss surgery, visit www.chisaintjosephhealth.org/lexington-weight-loss-surgery.

To read more about Laura Pollard’s weight loss journey, visit our blog.

About CHI Saint Joseph Health
CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of Catholic Health Initiatives, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 135 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to building healthier communities by elevating patient care through an integrated physical and behavioral health delivery system. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Flaget Memorial Hospital
Flaget Memorial Hospital, part of CHI Saint Joseph Health, is a 52-bed facility located in Bardstown, KY. Established in 1951 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the facility serves residents of Nelson, Hardin, Marion, Washington, Spencer, Bullitt and LaRue counties. The facility is also home to Nelson County’s first full-service cancer center.

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