Duke Raleigh Hospital

>>>> Summer 2014 HEALTHY FOCUS 3 When Amy Phillips of Knightdale, N.C., went with her family to an amusement park last summer, it was the first time in 20 years she hadn't been afraid to get on a roller coaster. Her fear wasn't of heights—it was that she might not fit into the restraints. Amy, a 35-year-old wife and mother of a teen and a tween, had tried traditional calorie counting—what she calls "rabbit food"—and prescription weight-loss medications. These plans worked for a while, but none proved to be a lasting solution. "I was actively avoiding situations that put me in large groups of people," says Amy, who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery at Duke Raleigh Hospital in December 2011. "I have lost around 175 pounds postsurgery for a grand total of around 220 since my journey began." NO QUICK REMEDY Bariatric surgery is life-changing, and preparing for it isn't easy. Amy describes it as "exciting and terrifying." She—like all candidates for weight-loss surgery at Duke Raleigh—had to undergo tests to help ensure she was physically and mentally healthy enough for surgery. Candidates for weight-loss surgery at Duke Raleigh are evaluated by a psychologist specifically trained in assessing patients for bariatric surgery. A cardiologist, pulmonologist, sleep specialist and gastroenterologist may also be involved in evaluations. Ideal candidates for surgery have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater with two or more comorbidities (such as diabetes and high blood pressure) or a BMI of 40 or greater. Jin Yoo, MD, bariatric surgeon at the Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery at Duke Raleigh, asked Amy to try to lose at least 50 pounds prior to surgery. Amy took that commitment seriously and is enjoying the results. "I feel fantastic," she says. "I have two girls, 11 and 13, who can't keep up with me now." NO NEED TO STRUGGLE ALONE While no one can do the hard work of changing your lifestyle for you, losing weight and keeping it off need not be a solitary journey. Support groups offer a safe harbor. "Being with people who have a common goal is extremely motivating," dietitian Ellen Michal says. "People can just come and listen; no one is forced to speak. When people sense that the atmosphere is nonjudgmental, they open up freely." Duke Raleigh staff aims to stay connected to patients postsurgery. Patients have scheduled appointments with a dietitian two weeks and six weeks post-op and again at the three-, six- and 12-month marks. Beyond that, a dietitian is available as needed. "Even postsurgery, you have to make good food choices and stay active for everything to fall into place," Amy says. "Weight-loss surgery is a tool—not an easy fix." A free weight-loss surgery seminar is a great first step in this journey. Duke Raleigh offers these sessions both in person and online. To learn more, call the Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery (Raleigh campus) at 919-862-2715, or email us at dukewls@duke.edu. An expanded version of this article originally appeared in the March/April 2014 issue of MIDTOWN magazine and is condensed here with the editor's permission. Read the full article at midtownmag.com. Losing Weight— and Gaining Your Life Back Before After

• Cover