Pictured, top photo/Spearfish Team
Laura Morris, RD, LDN, CDCES; Keena Byrd- Moro, DNP; Katy Caffee, DNP; Amanda Taglioli, PA-C; Andrew VanOsdol, M.D.
Bottom photo/Rapid City Team
David Fromm, M.D.; Tricia Hoffman, PA-C; Natalie Peterson, CNP; Danielle Heins, PA-C; Brianne Edwards, PA-C; Kirsten Butz, M.D.; Pial Hope, D.O.
While maintaining a balanced diet and regular physical activity go a long way in helping people manage their weight and reduce the risk of serious diseases, sometimes it isn’t enough. Weight management is a complex issue with many factors to consider. Where diet and exercise work for some, others may need surgical intervention to reach and maintain a healthier weight.
Weight-loss or bariatric surgery procedures such as gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and adjustable gastric banding, work by changing the anatomy of your gastrointestinal tract (stomach and digestive system) or by causing different physiological changes in your body that change your energy balance and fat metabolism.
By changing your gastrointestinal anatomy, certain bariatric procedures affect the production of intestinal hormones in a way that reduces hunger and appetite and increases feelings of fullness. The end result is less desire to eat. These surgically induced changes in hormones are different from those produced by dietary weight loss alone.
David Fromm, M.D., General Surgeon at Monument Health in Rapid City, noted, “The majority of our patients do very well. I think this is due, in part, to the multidisciplinary team approach. Our patients are thoroughly evaluated and treated prior to undergoing surgery. Bariatric surgery really becomes a life-changing event.”
“It’s about a six-month process beforehand where the team evaluates numerous factors,” said Andrew VanOsdol, M.D., General Surgeon at Monument Health in Spearfish. “We’ll identify problems with things like acid reflux or hernias, look for anything that needs to be taken care of before the surgery or to determine what kind of surgery, if any, is best in each case. Patients see a dietician and talk about medication before surgery, they’ll undergo a psychological evaluation.”
353 Fairmont Boulevard
Rapid City, SD 57701
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Spearfish, SD 57783