Weight loss services

Weight loss surgery and medical weight management are effective tools that can help you lose significant weight and maintain your progress over the long term. Often, losing weight isn’t as hard as keeping it off. Research indicates that approximately 80-95% of individuals who lose a substantial amount of weight through diet alone regain it within two to five years.

Weight loss surgery and medical weight management, when paired with a trusted partner like Sentara, can be effective tools for losing weight and helping individuals maintain that weight loss with ongoing support, education and a physiological reset to support long-term weight loss maintenance.

Many patients who have weight loss surgery or opt for medical weight management experience:

• Improved or resolved Type 2 diabetes
• Lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Reduced joint pain and mobility issues
• Improved sleep and energy
• A longer, healthier life

If you’ve tried to lose weight without long-term success, our team can help you explore your options to find the best path for your health and lifestyle.

Weight loss surgical options

Our surgeons will work with you to determine the best surgical option based on your health, lifestyle and weight loss goals.

Weight loss surgeries offered include:

• Gastric bypass surgery
• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
• Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery
• Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch
• Single Anastomosis Duodenal-Ileal Switch (SADI-S)

Weight loss surgery at Sentara is performed using minimally invasive techniques most of the time, also known as laparoscopically, which means less pain from incisions and faster recovery.

Medical weight management:

Some of our locations also offer medical weight management programs with:

• FDA-approved weight loss medications
• Personalized meal and exercise plans
• Guidance for managing side effects
• Ongoing support and monitoring, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise guidance as desired

Our team will help you navigate insurance coverage, understand out-of-pocket costs and whenever possible, connect you with resources to make your weight loss journey affordable and accessible.

If you're considering weight loss surgery or medical management, it's helpful to understand how doctors define and talk about weight.

What’s the difference between being overweight and obese?

These terms describe different levels of extra weight, helping your care team determine the type of support that might be right for you.

• Overweight means carrying more weight than what’s considered healthy for your height. That extra weight could come from fat, but it can also come from muscle, bone, or even water. For example, athletes or bodybuilders might be considered overweight because of their muscle mass - but that doesn’t mean they are obese.
• Obesity, or “having obesity,” refers to having too much body fat. It’s a medical condition - not a personal failure - and it can increase the risk for other health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
  
  • How is it measured? One common tool doctors use is called the Body Mass Index (BMI). It compares your height and weight to estimate your overall body fat. While it isn’t perfect - and doesn’t measure fat directly - it’s a good starting point.
    • A BMI of 25 or higher is considered overweight.
    • A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obesity.

That said, BMI is only one piece of the puzzle. Your doctor will look at your full health picture to help guide you to the best next steps. If you’re living with obesity, weight loss surgery may be an option to support long-term health and wellbeing.

The impact of obesity on your health depends on several factors, including your age, gender, level of physical activity and where you store your body fat.

If you are overweight or obese and have unhealthy eating and exercise habits, you may be at a higher risk for the following conditions:

• Arthritis
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Gallbladder disease
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Menstrual disorders
• Pregnancy complications
• Pulmonary disease
• Respiratory problems
• Sleep disorders
• Some forms of cancer
• Stroke

Losing weight and changing long-term lifestyle habits can significantly reduce your risk for these conditions.

Having obesity is not a personal failure or a sign of being out of control. Obesity is a complex, chronic disease, much like heart disease or diabetes, and it involves many factors that are often outside of your immediate control.

Many things can contribute to having obesity, including:

• Biology and metabolism: Hormonal changes, certain medical conditions and how your body uses and stores energy can influence weight gain.
• Emotional and psychological factors: Stress, emotional eating and certain mental health conditions can contribute to changes in eating patterns.
• Environment and social factors: Limited access to healthy foods, a lack of safe spaces for physical activity and work or family schedules can all play a role.
• Genetics: Your family history can affect your body weight, metabolism and how your body stores fat.
• Lifestyle factors: Eating patterns, activity levels and sleep habits can also impact your weight over time.

Having obesity often results from a combination of these factors, not just one cause. While genetics and certain conditions cannot be changed, there are supportive, evidence-based treatments and lifestyle changes that can help you improve your health and manage obesity effectively.

The more we learn about having obesity, the more we understand that treating obesity is about far more than simply not having willpower. Long term treatment of obesity should be similar to long term treatment of other health conditions.

This understanding of obesity as a complex medical condition helps illustrate why treating it is most effective with a combination of education, tools such as weight loss surgery or medical management and long-term support.

There is no single approach to prevent or treat obesity because it is a complex, chronic disease influenced by many factors. The most effective treatment plans are personalized to your unique health needs, lifestyle and goals.