How Novant Health weight loss programs can help improve your health

Maintaining a healthy weight can be a lifelong struggle — but Novant Health's personalized weight loss programs can help you lose and keep weight off safely so you can live a more active, healthy life.

The strategy: Novant Health offers personalized, comprehensive support to set weight loss goals and achieve them.

• Plus, weight loss experts will help you transform your body by addressing the physical, emotional and behavioral factors associated with obesity.

Why it's important: Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can help you control chronic health issues — such as heart conditions, diabetes and sleep apnea — and reduce risks for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

The deets: Novant Health's individualized weight loss program helps you navigate weight-loss options, including medication, nutrition, exercise, and bariatric surgery, so you have the plan that's right for you.

• Specific FDA-approved weight loss medications can suppress your appetite, control cravings and reduce binge eating.
• Nutritionists help patients control daily calorie intake through specialized meal replacements and diet plans that fit their needs.
• Highly skilled and experienced bariatric surgeons use the latest surgical procedures to safely reduce the size of patients' stomachs, helping them feel full faster.

"Our ultimate goal is not about weight — it's about good health," says Dr. David Voellinger of Novant Health Bariatric Solutions. "We want patients to have a better quality of life. Our goal is for patients to lose at least 75% of their excess weight and ideally for their body mass index, or BMI, to be under 30."

The impact: For candidates with a body mass index (BMI) above 40 — or a BMI of 35–40 combined with medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea — bariatric surgery may offer many benefits, including:

• The ability to reverse or decrease symptoms of medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer and sleep apnea.
• An improved mood and more restful sleep.
• Higher energy levels.
• Less joint and back pain.

"I've tried to lose weight many times but was never able to lose more than 15 or 20 pounds. I could never stick to a regimen," says a patient who lost 50 pounds after bariatric surgery. "I started to see results right away, and that made me want to keep going."

How it's done: The journey begins with a personalized wellness plan focused on your specific goals.

• Combined with your commitment and personal accountability, your care team of medical providers, registered dietitians, certified fitness trainers and licensed clinical social workers will keep you on track and guide you through any physical and emotional challenges along the way.
• Plus, they'll show you how to make healthy choices and understand the issues that may have derailed your efforts in the past as you build confidence and see results.

The takeaway: Novant Health's weight loss programs are designed to empower and support you on your journey.

Request a consult.