Medical and surgical weight loss: Weight loss options

Lifestyle Change programming supports a Health At Every Size approach that helps patients maintain a healthier lifestyle in terms of nutrition, activity, sleep, and well-being.

Lead by: UW Lifestyle Change Coach and/or registered dietitian.

Material: Prevent T2 (CDC program to prevent Type 2 diabetes)

Commitment: 1 year (weekly x 16 weeks, biweekly x 12 weeks, monthly x 4 months)

The research study on this program showed that it helped patients lose 5-7% of their body weight.

Learn more about the program

These physicians offer individual patient appointments focusing on medical weight loss. Your physician will generally recommend additional appointments with a nutritionist and/or health psychologist or joining a lifestyle change program. Read about each provider and their general practice strategies to make sure they fit with your expectations for a specific treatment plan.

R. Compton Kurtz II, MD
Strategies: Therapeutic carb restriction, medicines for weight loss, intermittent fasting

Philip Zimmermann, MD
Strategies: Intermittent fasting, co-management of diabetes/endocrine problems

During this procedure, the upper portion of your stomach is isolated as a small, 1- to 2-ounce “pouch.” A segment of your small intestine is then attached to this pouch. Food bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. The procedure helps you lose weight through caloric restriction, as the small pouch can only hold two to four tablespoons at a time and changes the absorption of nutrients.

In this procedure, a large portion of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow, tube-shaped pouch with a capacity of approximately three to four ounces. The intestines are not bypassed. The sleeve is primarily a restrictive procedure, allowing you to lose weight by limiting the intake of food and calories, in addition to a change in the ability to absorb some nutrients.

In this newer procedure, a gastroenterologist runs a suturing device down your throat and into your stomach and places sutures to make it smaller. The procedure recreates a surgical sleeve gastrectomy without the need for surgery.

Our bariatric surgeons offer consultations to patients who have had weight loss surgery in the past and may require a revision or repair due to unresolved co-morbidities or medical complications. Please call the clinic at (608) 265-7090 to learn more and to schedule a revisional surgery consultation.

This is a 12-month program where we focus on lifestyle and nutrition changes. Weight-loss medications may be prescribed (see below.)

• We focus on a low carbohydrate, low sugar approach to weight management.

• We focus not just on weight loss, but non-scale victories as well, looking at improvements in overall health.

• We look at many influences on weight: sleep, stress, emotional or mindless eating and physical activity, and will help connect you to other resources or referrals you may need in addition to our program.

• You will have approximately 9 visits with our providers over the course of 12 months.

• You will be meeting with doctors, dietitians, and Physician’s assistants.

• We offer both video visits as well as some in-person, in-clinic appointments.

Call your insurance company to ask about coverage, as each company determines what they cover.

• Weight-loss medications are optional and may not be appropriate for everyone.

• There are several weight-loss medications that are available. If you are interested in them, we will review your medical history to see if/which medication is appropriate.

• Weight-loss medications are only a small part of our program, and members must complete all required appointments (with doctors, dietitians, physician’s assistant, etc.) to continue with their prescriptions.

• Insurance coverage of medications can require a “prior authorization,” which can take up to three weeks.

• If you have been away from our program for more than a year, we require that you restart, which may include completing paperwork, introductory classes, etc.

• If you would like a refill on a past prescription, you will need to restart visits with the providers, including a dietitian.

• If you have missed a few months, our staff will work with you to get your appointments back on schedule.

Please note that coverage varies widely, each employer may purchase a different plan and the information below may not apply to your individual plan.

Please call your insurer or employer's benefits department for the most current and accurate information regarding coverage and requirements of your plan.

If your insurance or employer changes at any time, please let us know as soon as possible as this can impact your coverage.

We recommend that you call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card and ask if bariatric surgery is a covered benefit, and if there are any specific requirements for the surgery to be covered.

It is important to understand your financial responsibilities before you begin this journey, so ask lots of questions!

Do you:

• Have significant health issues that would improve with weight loss?

• Have a BMI of 35 or more with weight-related comorbidities?

• Have a BMI of 40 or more without weight-related comorbidities?

Note that individual insurance plans may have specific requirements for bariatric surgery coverage not included above.

If you are an adult 18 years or older and answered YES to any of the above questions AND are a non-smoker (you must be tobacco- and nicotine-free for at least three months prior to pre-surgery education) then you are likely a good fit for bariatric weight loss surgery.

If you do not meet the requirements of bariatric weight loss surgery, we also offer non-surgical (metabolic) weight management options.

The program pathway is a minimum of five consecutive monthly visits (all required), which include group and individual appointments.

Our surgeons offer the sleeve gastrectomy and the Roux-en-Y bypass procedures as well as endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.

Yes, our surgeons also perform revisional surgery if medically indicated for people who have had previous weight loss surgery.

Our program is designed for adults 18 year and older. For information about pediatric weight loss, please contact UW Health’s Pediatric Fitness Clinic.