CentraState - Healthy Directions

BARIATRIC SURGERY Ron Pavesi of Lakewood has always struggled with weight, and has lost more than 100 pounds three times in his life. The first two times, the 65-year-old retired teacher lost the weight through dieting and exercise. But after each weight loss, he found it extremely difficult to maintain the dieting phase and gained back the weight over time. At his heaviest, he weighed 320 pounds. A year and a half ago, Ron decided he wanted to try again, and investigated weight- loss surgery options after a friend had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy with Seun Sowemimo, MD, a board-certified bariatric surgeon with Prime Surgicare and Central Jersey Bariatrics and on staff at CentraState. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery works by reducing the size of the stomach, which restricts the amount of food that the patient consumes before feeling full. It also profoundly reduces hunger and cravings by removing the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, a hormone that causes hunger. In retrospect, Ron says he was glad he did a lot of the research ahead of time because he was well prepared for the lifestyle changes he was about to undergo. The surgery is not a magic bullet, he explains. It is not merely having a smaller stomach; eating becomes an entirely different experience. For example, his meal portions are now one-third of what he used to eat. "One of my biggest concerns before I had my operation was that I would miss the quantities that I had before," he says. "But since having the sleeve, I don't feel like I'm on a diet or deprived." The reason significant weight loss is difficult to achieve and maintain is because the body, over time, adapts to the high weight as normal. Dieting and exercise, in most cases, is not enough to overcome powerful mechanisms the body uses to maintain a weight it deems standard. Weight loss surgery, however, impacts many areas of the weight control system and the body itself becomes geared toward achieving a lower "normal" weight, allowing dieting and exercise to be more effective. "The surgery gives patients a tool they can use to successfully lose the weight and maintain weight loss for the long-term," Dr. Sowemimo says. RON'S NEW NORMAL Ron eats about 1,200-1,400 calories a day. For exercise, he lifts weights and rides his bicycle 30 miles four or five times a week. In the past six months on his bike, he burned about 88,000 calories and traveled 2,000 miles. "Biking after the surgery has accelerated Ron's weight loss," Dr. Sowemimo says. "He's lost more than 100 pounds and will get to a lower weight he can maintain with a healthy diet and exercise." Ron started at 298 pounds and is down to 175 pounds and dropping. Although he is almost at the 165-pound weight ideal for his 5'9" frame, Ron is not so focused on the number on the scale; he is hoping to reach a body fat percentage of 17 percent. He started out at 43 percent body fat, and was at 20 percent the last time he was tested. Because many people are not successful at keeping their excess weight off for four years, even with the operation, Ron is determined to work extremely hard to never gain weight again. He attends monthly support group meetings at the hospital, and Dr. Sowemimo is there to support his patients along the way. In fact, doctor and patient have gone cycling together. "How many people can say they're going cycling with their surgeon? He's such a great guy—there's no one like him," Ron says. Ron is so happy with his weight loss results because he can now live an active life without the handicap of excess weight. He can get on a plane and have a seat belt that fits. When he visits his granddaughter in Texas, he is able to keep up with her on the playground. The family is planning a trip to Disney World in the fall, and he is looking forward to going on rides and walking all over the park. Such a scenario wasn't possible for Ron before the weight loss. "I really feel like this surgery has given me the chance at being able to finally keep my excess weight off," Ron says. For more information about CentraState's bariatric services, visit CentraState.com/Bariatric or call 866-CENTRA7 (866-236-8727). HD Embracing an Active Lifestyle www.centrastate.com Summer 2015 11

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