Weight Loss Treatments & Services

Obesity is common, serious and costly. It can lead to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.

In addition to affecting you physically and emotionally, obesity can take a toll on your self-esteem and your relationships or ability to build relationships with others. At Emory Healthcare we help patients compassionately and professionally through surgical and non-surgical proven weight loss methods.

Surgical Weight Loss Options

Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass surgery is a surgical weight loss option that restricts food consumption and permanently alters the digestive process. The gastric bypass procedure is only recommended when all other programs of dieting, exercise, and medicine have failed.

Gastric Band

Laparoscopic gastric banding, or the "lap band" procedure, involves the placement of an adjustable gastric band around the top part of the stomach, which divides it into two parts: a small upper pouch and a lower stomach. The size of the gastric lap band is adjusted using a port placed under your skin. Adjusting the lap band changes how much you can eat and how quickly food leaves the new pouch so patients feel full sooner and longer than usual.

Sleeve Gastrectomy

The sleeve limits food intake by reducing the size of the stomach. A stapling device is used to divide the stomach vertically, leaving behind a thin vertical sleeve of stomach. The excised portion of the stomach is removed.

Post Surgery Body Contouring

After major weight loss, skin often becomes baggy and thin around the stomach, legs, arms, breasts, and neck. Emory board-certified surgeons are skilled at removing and tightening skin through a variety of procedures (see below). Because these procedures are considered cosmetic, insurance companies rarely cover body contouring. In instances when the procedure is a well-documented medical necessity, insurers may make exceptions.

Non-surgical Weight Loss Options

CHIP

CHIP is a 9-week intensive Complete Health Improvement Program. CHIP is perfect for individuals who want to improve or prevent chronic diseases, lose weight, and feel better overall. CHIP is one of the most scientifically validated lifestyle medicine programs in the world with proven results in improving blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood sugar, sleep, resilience, depression, and BMI. In addition, CHIP is the first program to earn the Certified Lifestyle Medicine Program designation from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM).

This program consists of:

  • Baseline and ending biometric screening (cholesterol and fasting blood sugar levels)
  • Baseline and ending medical visits with our providers (virtual)
  • Baseline, mid and ending body composition analysis, to evaluate improvements in muscle mass and fat mass
  • One-on-one virtual visits with the registered dietitians or providers, as needed
  • E-mail access to the registered dietitians to provide support and answer questions
  • 18 Health Improvement Education sessions including educational video and group discussion
  • Educational resources including nutrition recommendations, cookbook, exercise guides, and CHIP textbook
Insulin Pump

Insulin pump users will benefit from group and individual sessions that will teach persons with diabetes how to use and manage their diabetes through an insulin pump regimen. Device use, infusion insertion, maintenance, troubleshooting, nutrition management and exercising with an insulin pump are examples of the offered training. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions and concerns to class to discuss with the Registered Diabetes Educators. Physician referral required. 

Weight Loss Seminar

This is a fully customized, non-surgical, physician-supervised weight management program.

Diabetes Education Services

Emory’s Outpatient Diabetes Education and Nutrition Services Program is proud to offer self-management classes built around the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) "7 self-care behaviors". Classes aim to promote and teach people with diabetes to be active, to eat healthily, to practice daily monitoring, how to take medication, to reduce risks, to problem solve and to develop healthy coping habits for successful diabetes management.

Group classes and one-on-one sessions are available.

Classes and individual visits are led by our multispecialty team, which includes Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE), Registered Nurses (RN) and Registered Dietitians (RD). Nurse Practitioners (NP) and Endocrinologists offer support and guidance for the program and classes. Our program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association for providing patients with the tools and habits they need to avoid long term complications and successfully control diabetes.

Medical Nutrition Therapy Services

Our licensed dietitians can help people with a variety of conditions to learn the nutritional and meal planning skills they need to lead a healthier lifestyle. In addition to diabetes, we see people with kidney disease, cardiovascular conditions, gastrointestinal issues, obesity and weight gain, unexpected weight loss, and others.

Gestational Diabetes Management 

Gestational Diabetes Management classes are perfect for expectant mothers who want to learn how they can navigate diabetes treatment during pregnancy. Classes will focus on nutrition counseling, glucose monitoring goals, and understanding how gestational diabetes can be controlled for the health of both mother and baby. Classes are offered throughout the month at several locations and a variety of times.

More Information

For more information, please contact our HealthConnection registered nurses at 404-778-7777 or select a link below. 

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