At Baptist Health, we know weight loss can often be overwhelming. If you have serious health problems due to your weight or diet and exercise are not working, bariatric surgery could be a treatment option for you. Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, helps individuals alter their eating habits by restricting food intake or limiting food absorption. Bariatric surgery is a tool; it is not a quick fix. When accompanied by permanent lifestyle changes, it can help individuals achieve lasting health benefits.
Our surgeons specialize in the following procedures: Sleeve Gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, and Revisional Surgery.
After an initial consultation, your surgeon will recommend a procedure based on your preferences, medical conditions, and needs.
Bariatric Surgery Benefits
- Long-term remission from Type 2 Diabetes
- Reduce weight-related medical problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea
- Improve fertility
- Improve mobility and decrease joint pain
- Lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke
Our Locations
Baptist Health offers surgical weight loss options in three convenient locations. Learn more about each location by following the links below.
Obesity
Obesity is a complex disease involving an excess of body fat. It can increase your risk of other diseases and health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, stroke, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than burned through exercise and normal daily activities. Causes of obesity include:
- Inactivity
- Poor eating habits
- Lack of sleep
- Certain medications
BMI
Body mass index, or BMI, is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. BMI is a screening tool to estimate weight status in relation to potential disease risk. If a person’s BMI is outside of the healthy range, their health risks increase significantly. BMI categories:
- Underweight – BMI is less than 18.5
- Ideal Weight – BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
- Overweight – BMI between 25 and 29.9
- Obese – BMI is 30 or greater
Our team can help you determine your eligibility for weight loss surgery and start you on a path to a healthier you.
Obesity
Obesity is a complex disease involving an excess of body fat. It can increase your risk of other diseases and health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, stroke, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than burned through exercise and normal daily activities. Causes of obesity include:
- Inactivity
- Poor eating habits
- Lack of sleep
- Certain medications
BMI
Body mass index, or BMI, is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. BMI is a screening tool to estimate weight status in relation to potential disease risk. If a person’s BMI is outside of the healthy range, their health risks increase significantly. BMI categories:
- Underweight – BMI is less than 18.5
- Ideal Weight – BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
- Overweight – BMI between 25 and 29.9
- Obese – BMI is 30 or greater
Our team can help you determine your eligibility for weight loss surgery and start you on a path to a healthier you.
Did You Know?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 37.4% of Arkansans are considered obese. In all, more than two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese.
This includes type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and overall lower life quality.
Individually, the average medical costs of people who have obesity were $1,429 more than those at a healthy weight. Collectively, obesity costs Americans $147 billion each year.
In 2017-2018, 44.8% of adults between the ages of 40 and 59 were obese. This is only slightly greater than the 40% prevalence of adults aged 20-39, and 42.8% of adults aged 60 and over.
46.4% of men aged 40-59 were obese in 2017-2018. In comparison, 43.3% of women in the same age group were obese during that time.
According to data from 2017 through 2019, non-Hispanic Black adults had the highest prevalence of obesity (39.8%), followed by Hispanic adults (33.8%) and non-Hispanic White adults (29.9%).
Weight-Related Factors
Obesity is a chronic disease with many complex causes. On a basic level, A disproportion in calories consumed versus calories burned can cause weight gain. However, we now know that additional factors, such as the environment, metabolism, genetics, and certain medical conditions, also contribute to obesity.
Diet and Exercise
Environment
Genetics
Medical Conditions
SUCCESS STORY
Owen Faust
Surgical weight loss patient, Owen Faust, shares his story of success and why she decided to undergo bariatric surgery at Baptist Health.