Fredericksburg Parent

18 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • December 2022 Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING Medical approach to weight loss builds habits for a healthy life Mary Washington Weight Loss Center Obesity aff ects more than 40% of the American popula on, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven on. That number has risen consistently in recent years, and it's a growing concern, because obesity-related medical condi ons such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death in the U.S. Making the lifestyle and mindset changes necessary to losing weight and keeping it off can be hard for people to do alone, and repeated failures can build up to make the goal seem unreachable. This is why Mary Washington Healthcare established the Mary Washington Weight Loss Center in 2020. This is a comprehensive weight loss center staff ed with the physicians, die ans, behavioral specialists and support staff to take pa ents through a medically supported, safe journey not only to weight loss, but also to long-term healthier habits. As our December Expert, Prac ce Manager Marty Heins, RN talks about how the medical approach to weight loss could prove to be the key to success for those who have tried and failed to keep the weight off through other programs. Q: What is the Mary Washington Weight Loss Center? The center launched in May 2020, led by Dr. Denis Halmi, MD, FACS, FASMBS, our medical director. Dr. Halmi is a bariatric surgeon. Bariatric surgery refers to a category of surgical procedures that help people lose weight by making changes to the diges ve system. Bariatric surgery can be a solu on when diet and exercise have not worked, or when weight is causing serious health issues. But surgery is only one piece of the much broader approach we take to weight loss. In addi on to our surgical program, we launched the Moving Forward Medical Weight Management Program in May 2022. This program is for anybody who has a goal of losing weight. Our team includes Dr. Halmi, a physician's assistant, registered die an and behavioral health coach/exercise physiologist. Q: What is medical weight loss? It is a comprehensive program that is focused on long-term lifestyle changes. This is not a diet. The Moving Forward program is a 12-week program supervised by medical professionals who specialize in weight loss. Program par cipants fi rst meet with Dr. Halmi, and are then seen by our physician's assistant to monitor health indicators through tests like an electrocardiogram (EKG), blood workups and body composi on analysis. Par cipants meet with a registered die an and behavioral health and exercise physiologist to establish ea ng and ac vity habits that will help them meet their goals. Dr. Denis Halmi, MD, FACS, FASMBS Marty Heins, RN Prac ce Manager

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