Have you repeatedly tried and been disappointed with every fad diet, while your quality of life and health have continued to decline? The Surgical Weight Loss Program at St. Vincent's East may be the solution for you!
Call our nurse navigator today to learn more
about your options
Obesity and its related health problems have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. In 2004, 66% of U.S. adults were overweight (defined as a Body Mass Index or BMI of 25-30). In Alabama, 30% of adults are obese (BMI> 30) and that percentage is growing every year.
Severe morbid obesity is defined as a BMI of 40 without risk factors or a BMI of 35 or greater when associated with serious health conditions such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and sleep apnea and when non-surgical treatments such as diets, exercise and drugs have not been effective. Surgical weight loss has the greatest impact on quick and sustained weight loss in conjunction with altered eating and activity behaviors.
Weight loss surgery can result in profound and sustained weight loss. Patients typically lose an average of 50-60% of their excess weight partly depending on the operation they chose. Diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension and many other health problems typically resolve or greatly improve after weight loss surgery.
The St. Vincent's East Surgical Weight Loss Program, one of the first in the Birmingham area, has performed more than 5,800 procedures including Roux-EN-Y gastric bypass (RGB), adjustable gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. The St. Vincent's East Surgical Weight Loss Program was the first to offer the adjustable gastric band in Alabama.
The Surgical Weight Loss Program at St. Vincent's East has been named an American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons(ACS) as a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. This designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric weight loss surgery.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has designated the Surgical Weight Loss Program at St. Vincent's East as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. The Blue Distinction designation is awarded to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare.
The Surgical Weight Loss Program has also been designated as an Institute of Quality Bariatric Surgery Facility for 2011 by Aetna, based upon evaluation of the clinical performance and overall value.
