Get on the path to weight loss

Struggling to lose weight and feel like you’ve tried everything? Let the compassionate professionals at TidalHealth Medical Weight Loss & Bariatric Nutrition and Atlantic General Bariatric Center help.

The medical teams want to provide the tools to help you maintain a healthy weight — not judge.

“It’s a very supportive environment, that’s what we really try to build,” said Mary Williams-Feldman, CRNP, who cares for patients at TidalHealth Medical Weight Loss & Bariatric Nutrition in Seaford.

Angela Simmons, CRNP, who cares for patients at Atlantic General Bariatric Center in Berlin, also stresses the importance of encouragement. Both providers say patients shouldn’t be afraid to come back if they haven’t lost weight since the prior appointment, for example.

Weight loss doesn’t have one solution, and the process looks different for each person. “Everybody needs to have a personalized plan,” Simmons said.

For Chris Martinez, surgery was the right choice.

In May 2023, he had gastric bypass, or Roux-en-Y, surgery performed by Jarrod Buzalewski, DO, one of TidalHealth’s bariatric surgeons.

Before the surgery, Martinez was 270 pounds, but more of a problem for him was having to be on three medications to control his blood pressure. He was also dealing with acid reflux. Now, Martinez, who is the public safety manager at TidalHealth Nanticoke, is down to 188 pounds, only needs to take one blood pressure medicine and doesn’t need to take acid reflux medicine. He said he feels 10 or 15 years younger.

The whole process has been positive for him.

“Feeling better medically and physically was the biggest thing,”
he said.

Martinez stayed fully committed to the process and said it’s important for people considering surgery to have the right mindset.

On a scale of 1-10, he said he’d rate Dr. Buzalewski an “11.”

“He’s just very personable, and he really, truly cares about his patients,” Martinez said.

Medical weight loss
Simmons said it’s important to learn how the patient is looking to lose weight — whether they want to pursue surgery. Not everyone qualifies for surgery, either; for example, the person’s body mass index could be too low to qualify.

After learning about a patient’s initial goals, Simmons can work with them to find the best way to help. As part of the care she provides, she can connect the person to mental health, fitness and nutrition resources.

Feldman said she’ll generally start out with lab work to see if there’s another reason someone could be struggling to lose weight. Then, she will provide guidance on nutrition and physical activity, and if the patient is interested in medications, she’ll discuss options with them.

Surgical options
If you qualify and choose to move forward with bariatric surgery, your surgeon will discuss which procedure best suits your surgical needs.

TidalHealth surgical weight loss procedures include:

• Sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve)
• Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y bypass)
• Biliary-pancreatic diversion duodenal switch

Atlantic General Bariatric Center procedures include:

• Sleeve gastrectomy
• Gastric bypass
• Lap band conversion to sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass

Both offices see patients before and after surgeries. One important thing for patients to do afterward is ensure they’re getting enough protein, Feldman said.

Every patient needs to have a mental health evaluation before surgery to ensure this is something they want to do — not that someone else wants them to do — and that they understand the impacts, Simmons said. The screening also includes a history of other mental health issues, such as eating disorders or substance abuse. It’s also helpful for the patient to have support at home.

Both TidalHealth and Atlantic General Hospital offer support groups for patients.

Ready to take the next step in improving your health? Set up an appointment today.