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Health Matters: Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center | 5 U nder weig h t H e a lth y w ei g ht Over w e igh t Ob e s e Mo r bid l y o be se * feelings and began to drink heavily. She felt terrible, she developed diabetes, and her weight impacted every aspect of her life. "I was an overeater and an alcoholic," she says. "At 5 feet 3 inches, my weight climbed to 220 pounds. My body mass index (BMI) was 39. I tried to lose weight with watching my calories and exercising, but I could never lose more than five pounds or so. Nothing was working for me." Things changed in 2023, when Roxana, who works as a receptionist at Queen of the Valley Medical Center, was inspired by a workmate who'd recently had weight loss surgery (otherwise known as bariatric surgery). The positive changes were plain to see, and quite impressive. "I thought, 'Why couldn't I do that, too?' " she says. SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS OPTIONS Roxana made an appointment with Providence bariatric surgeon Scott Perryman, MD. As CEO of Whole Health Weight Loss Institute, Dr. Perryman is passionate about his field. "Obesity is always having an effect on your body— on your blood pressure, heart health and blood sugar level," he says. Ticking through a list of negative effects, he says, "Did you know that obesity is the leading probable cause of cancer? And the second-largest cause of death in America? My goal is to help people make changes to reverse the disease of obesity and reclaim their health." Dr. Perryman's practice is unique in that patients preparing for surgery are taught about the tools and lifestyle changes necessary for long-term success. These changes include a commitment to mindfulness, which the doctor defines as emotional awareness in the absence of judgment or criticism. Mindfulness helps patients to become aware of their emotions so they can understand whether they are nourishing their bodies or feeding their emotions. Depending upon each patient's specific situation, Dr. Perryman recommends one of three options for surgery. KNOW YOUR BMI Dr. Perryman recommends the BMI calculator provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov. Plug in your weight and height and it will calculate your BMI. Here is a chart that tells you where you fall. To learn whether you are a candidate for bariatric surgery or to get more information, call Whole Health Weight Loss Institute at 707-721-3500 or visit whweightloss.com. Below 20 35 and above 20 to 24.9 25 to 29.9 30 to 35 *See bariatric surgeon 1. The Gastric Balloon "This is the least invasive surgery, and I use it to treat people with mild obesity," Dr. Perryman says. The procedure is fairly straightforward. An endoscope (a flexible camera) is inserted through the mouth and down into the stomach to inspect its condition. Once fitness for surgery is confirmed, Dr. Perryman inserts a deflated balloon into the stomach. "I inflate the balloon with sterile saline solution until it is the size of a grapefruit, and I leave it there and then remove the camera. There are no incisions." 2. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy This procedure is often used to treat moderate to severely obese patients, like Roxana. "This is real surgery," Dr. Perryman says. "I am entering the abdominal cavity and stapling off about 80% to 90% of the stomach, which is then cut and removed. It leaves the stomach at the size of a banana, with a capacity of about six ounces, down from 40 ounces." Having a smaller stomach is not the only thing controlling your food intake. "The section of the stomach that is removed is the part that produces the main hunger hormone," the doctor says. "It takes the edge off for emotional eaters like Roxana. It can bring diabetes under control rapidly." 3. The Gastric Bypass "This is the grandfather of weight loss surgery, and it has been performed in the U.S. since the 1960s on morbidly obese patients," Dr. Perryman says. "Here we are stapling the stomach again, but this time we are leaving the stomach at the size of an egg. We are also cutting a portion of the small intestine and reattaching it to that egg. This means that food you eat enters an egg-size stomach and then bypasses a large portion of the intestine," which reduces the amount of food you absorb. After surgery, patients must take vitamin supplements to ensure they get enough nutrients. As Roxana says, the surgery is just the start. "It takes dedication and determination to stay fit, because it is possible to gain weight back if the stomach stretches," she says. "At the same time, you do have to be gentle with yourself—you just made a big life change and you're a whole new person."

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