Healthy Connections
PrintA guide to better health from Backus
August 2010
Surgery an option for those who have tried other methods
Dr. Tousignant said not all patients are candidates for the procedure and other options must be attempted first, such as dieting, exercising, food journals, support groups and other weight loss methods. He added that those who do qualify must be committed to the entire program, which includes nutrition information, support groups before and after surgery, psychiatric screenings and follow up visits. Recipes and cooking classes will also be offered at the Backus Outpatient Care Center.
“Being aggressive with the obesity problem is the right thing to do,” Dr. Tousignant said. “More than 75% of children who are overweight will be overweight as adults, and overweight people tend to suffer from a wide range of medical problems, from heart disease to diabetes. If we can help people lose weight, we can prevent potentially serious medical issues, improve patients’ quality of life and at the same time do our part to reduce skyrocketing healthcare costs. This is a very important endeavor, and we are determined to succeed.”
In addition to Dr. Tousignant, the Backus Weight Loss Center is staffed by registered dietitians, nurses, psychiatrists and other support staff. Most patient appointments will be at the Backus Outpatient CareCenter in Norwich, which is easily accessible off I-395 with ample parking and located on one ground level.
The LAP-BAND® procedure involves a silicone ring that is inserted as a “belt” around the upper abdomen. The ring, or “band,” is connected by thin tubing to an access port just below the skin, and the surgeon tightens or loosens the fit of the LAP-BAND® system by injecting or withdrawing saline. Unlike gastric bypass, this procedure does not require cutting or stapling the stomach.
The LAP-BAND® system creates a pouch in the upper stomach providing patients the sensation of fullness despite smaller meals. Additionally, patients’ appetites are satisfied for longer periods of time, so they tend to eat less. Patients typically lose 1-2 pounds per week, which is healthy and safe, Dr. Tousignant said.
But surgery is only one part of the weight loss equation.
“Hunger is not the only trigger for eating — obesity is a complex, multi-factoral disease,” Dr. Tousignant said. “It can include social, behavioral, cultural, physiological, metabolic and genetic factors. At the Backus Weight Loss Center, we are prepared to take all of this into account, work as a team with our patients and offer them results that they can’t get anywhere else in New London or Windham counties.”