Mercy Medical Center’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program is committed to individualized multidisciplinary care for people who are overweight.

Our services focus on helping you make lifestyle changes to help you succeed in your goal of good health.

Mercy Medical Center has been accredited as a Level 2B facility by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BSCN) Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This designation means that our Medical Center has met the essential criteria that ensure it is fully capable of supporting a bariatric surgery care program and that its institutional performance meets the requirements outlined by the ACS BSCN Accreditation Program.

Our Program’s Philosophy -- Putting Together the Pieces

Mercy’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program is based upon the principle that obesity and weight management are affected by the interaction of many components or "pieces". It is only through addressing each of these key pieces that optimal long-term weight management can be ottained.

Your Health Care Team

The Comprehensive Weight Management Program offers the extensive services of the Sisters of Providence Health System. Our experienced health care team is comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners, behavioral health counselors, registered dieticians and medical assistants.

Some of the resources you will have access to include medical, dietary and behavioral experts from Mercy Medical Center (including the Diabetes Education Center and our Sleep Studies Center) and Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital.

Our Goal

Our goal is to provide you and your health care providers with state-of-the-art medical information, consultation and guidelines promoting effective and safe weight-loss maintenance in support of a healthy lifestyle.

We are focused on helping you return to a healthy weight and to minimize the health risks related to being overweight. Some of the increased health risks for people who are overweight include:

• Certain cancers
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Gall stones
• Heartburn
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension
• Infertility
• Liver disease
• Sleep apnea

Our Services

Mercy’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program offers:

• Medical consultation
• Education about lifestyle changes
• Nutritional counseling
• Exercise guidance
• OPTIFAST weight-loss program
• Support groups
• Medical and pharmaceutical therapies
• Preparation and follow up for bariatric surgery (Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass Surgery)

The Comprehensive Weight Management Program’s medical professionals will discuss and review current weight, BMI and waist circumference during your initial office visit.

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measurement for assessing risk related to weight. Simply stated, it is a ratio of weight over height squared.

During this visit, we will discuss your individualized goal for desired weight and your practical goal for weight loss. We will also evaluate your past medical history in terms of disease related to weight.

We will also discuss with you:

• Current medications
• Family history of obesity
• Previous diet and weight-loss history including past experiences with diet, exercise, clinics and medications
• Social history, specifically focusing on:

Family/significant others’ roles and other relationships

Meal preparation

Occupation and hobbies

Stress and coping mechanisms

Activity level/attitude toward exercise

Next, a comprehensive physical examination is conducted and a multidisciplinary plan is developed including education for initiating and maintaining weight loss.

Weight-Loss Surgery

We specialize in the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System surgery and long-term patient management to help our patients take control of their obesity and regain their health.

A decision to have obesity surgery is not to be taken lightly. The goal of this website is to provide you with information that can help you decide whether obesity surgery is right for you and if you are a candidate for the LAP-BAND® System surgery, click here to link with www.lapband.com. Click here to view and/or print the LAP-BAND® Quick Reference Guide.

If you’re serious about losing weight...Ask about OPTIFAST®

Before you enter the OPTIFAST Program, you’ll receive an initial evaluation to determine if OPTIFAST is right for you. Once you start the program, you’ll progress through the three phases:

• Active Weight Loss: You’ll consume the OPTIFAST meal replacement formulas instead of your typical foods so you don’t have to worry about counting calories. You will also begin important lifestyle changes.
• Transition: You’ll gradually learn how to add self-prepared foods back into your diet while continuing with lifestyle change education.
• Long-term Management: You can participate in ongoing classes and support sessions to help you manage your weight in the future.

The OPTIFAST Program succeeds because it treats the whole you -- not just your weight. Trained health care professionals partner with you to create a customized strategy to reach your goals.