WHICH WEIGHT LOSS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 81
How long does the weight stay off?
• Drugs:Weight loss drugs must be used in combination with diet
and exercise to maximize weight loss. Patients are usually only
able to maintain weight loss while on the drug. Unless you are
able to maintain the good eating habits and exercise programs
you started while on the drug, you will likely gain the weight back
when you come off the drug.
• Surgery: At New Jersey Bariatric Center, we find that more than
75 percent of patients who have had weight loss surgery maintained their weight loss five years after surgery. In patients who
stick to a healthy diet and routinely exercise, we find these numbers are even higher. Patients who don’t follow the prescribed
dietary and exercise recommendations may also regain weight.
• Takeaway: For many of my patients, weight loss surgery ends the
cycle of weight loss and weight regain. Weight loss surgery and
weight loss drugs should be looked at as tools that assist you in
your weight loss journey. Both take work and dedication. You will
have to make changes to your lifestyle to see results. Making
healthy food choices and exercising must be added to ensure
long-term success.
In the end, determining whether you’re a candidate for surgery or
medication should be a decision that you come to with your doctor.
Think about what fits best into your individual goals and have realistic
expectations of what each method offers. A successful program will
give you the tools to lose weight, the education to maximize your
weight loss through healthy eating and exercise and the support from
a team of specialists to help you keep it off for the long term.
Ajay Goyal, MD, FACS, is founder of the New Jersey Bariatric Center, a
medical & surgical weight loss center with offices in Springfield,
Somerville and Hoboken, and Director of Bariatric Surgery at Overlook Medical Center in Summit.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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