With obesity rates on the rise, Americans are slowly making the lifestyle changes they need to take control of their health and lose weight. Weight loss surgery offers hope for those who need to lose more than 100 pounds, and procedures such as gastric bypass, gastric banding and other bariatric procedures are helping many win the battle of the bulge.   

But is surgery the only choice for dramatic weight loss? Recent studies reveal that stomach stapling, nutritional therapy and even brain surgery can provide lasting results:  

Weight Loss with Brain Surgery  

Since many problems relating to overeating and feeling satiated are traced to the brain and nervous system, some researchers suggest that intercepting the brain’s circuitry may be the best solution for weight loss. Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco suggests that the vagus nerve plays a critical role in weight gain and may be the culprit behind overeating and excessive hunger.   

Many obese patients simply lose their sense of feeling full and are constantly hungry; the vagus nerve may be responsbile for this, according to Dr. Lustig, and his strategy for combating the problem is simple – cut the vagus nerve completely so it no longer sends the wrong signal. Dr. Lustig suggests the surgery is a valuable alternative to gastric bypass because it costs about 1/5th of the price of bariatric procedures, and can be much safer than weight loss drugs. (Source: WABC-TV/DT)  

Weight Loss with Stomach Stapling

While gastric bypass surgery can help reduce hundreds of pounds of weight after just one procedure, the first part of the process may be enough to trigger weight loss. Researchers at UCLA conducted a study to determine how effective stomach stapling can be for obese patients, and soon discovered that a ‘sleeve gastrectomy’ could be just as valuable for weight loss as the complete procedure.  

In a recent interview with KOLD News of Tucson, Dr. Amir Mehran, Director of Bariatric Surgery at UCLA indicates that, “In a sleeve gastrectomy what we’re doing is trimming down the stomach over a special calibrating tube to one third or one fourth of it’s current size.” 

This means the patient may still enjoy the benefits of gastric bypass surgery – shrinking the size of the stomach to reduce food intake - without having to undergo the complete bariatric procedure.  

Weight Loss with Psychotherapy

Many obese patients are suffering from an eating disorder that goes untreated for years; binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating and bulimia can all be the result of overwhelming emotional issues that are the root of unhealthy eating patterns. A psychotherapist can provide coping skills for reducing distressing feelings responsible for the eating disorder, and find out what underlying issues need to be addressed. After that, a healthy eating plan from a nutritionist or dietitian may help with ongoing weight loss.  

Weight Loss with Nutritional Counseling

Nutritional counseling is a valuable reosurce for both overweight and obese patients, and can become part of an ongoing weight maintenance program after surgery. Making significant dietary changes can aid with weight loss, but losing 100 pounds or more will require medical supervision and a flexible eating and medication program. Nutritional counselors can help identify problem areas of the diet, determine daily caloric requirements and build a menu of foods and supplements to help an obese patient begin a healthy eating program.   

Being overweight or obese is linked to several health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, joint problems and even low self-esteem. While gastric bypass procedures and bariatric surgery can help get rid of hundreds of pounds, alternatives do exist. From stomach stapling to nutritional counseling, there are now other ways to lose the pounds and maintain a healthy weight for the long term.   

Learn more about weight loss counseling and nutritional therapy in our information guide, or find a bariatric surgeon in your area who can guide you through the treatment process.