Inova’s comprehensive weight loss program yields a happy success story for Warrenton woman
200 Pounds Lighter — in Body and Spirit
Caitlyn Carroll has a healthier body and a new outlook on life since her weight loss surgery, thanks to Inova’s integrated surgical and lifestyle solutions.
“I’m free!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, that’s how 29-year-old Caitlyn Carroll describes her results following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery through the Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (IFOH) Weight Loss Surgery Program.
“Guess what else? I can go to the theme park and go on any ride I want. No more weight restrictions!” Caitlin adds with a laugh, referring to the weight limits on roller-coaster rides.
Caitlyn laughs easily now, but she acknowledges there was nothing funny about the emotional highs and lows she rode for years as she struggled with obesity and worried about the associated health risks, including heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, gallstones, breathing problems, high cholesterol and certain cancers. So in January 2014, Caitlyn, of Warrenton, Virginia, took charge and partnered with Amir Moazzez, MD, Inova Weight Loss Surgery Medical Director, who performed her procedure. Since then, she has lost 200 pounds, adopted a healthy lifestyle and discovered a whole new level of energy.
Synergy of Weight Loss Options
Caitlyn credits a large part of her success to the rare synergy between IFOH’s two complementary weight-loss programs. The nationally recognized Weight Loss Surgery Program offers a range of surgical weight-loss treatments, including minimally invasive procedures such as mini-incision gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic gastric banding. The Medical Weight Loss Program helps patients learn how to healthfully lose weight and keep it off through healthy diet, nutrition and exercise choices.
The collaborative coordination between both programs gives Inova weight loss patients access to a broad and deep support network, including nationally recognized, board-certified physicians, registered dietitians, exercise specialists, specialized counselors and certified nurses. “Having these resources allows us to assess each patient’s weight loss goal and create a personalized plan to safely and effectively meet that goal,” Dr. Moazzez says. “But what sets us apart from other institutions is our dedication beyond what the scale says. We help patients cope physically, emotionally and mentally with their weight loss. That level of commitment is rare.”
Weight Loss Surgery as a Tool
That education and support, Caitlyn says, began during the months prior to surgery and continues today. “My weight loss gave me the freedom to enjoy life, but I work hard — every day — for that freedom. Surgery isn’t a quick fix and relapses happen. I check in with Inova’s weight loss team every six months, and with their help, I take far more steps forward than backward.”
Kajal G. Zalavadia, MD, bariatrician, Inova Medical Weight Loss Program director, echoes Caitlyn’s sentiment. “Obesity is a chronic condition, and like every chronic condition, it requires long-term, highly individualized follow-up care. That’s why we stress that surgery is a tool — an excellent tool, but not a solution. The solution lies in learning how to use that tool correctly, so patients lose weight and keep it off.”
The integrated programs also allow Dr. Zalavadia to make targeted decisions based on each patient’s individual health status. “Sometimes I see patients who need to lose well over a hundred pounds, and the weight is jeopardizing their health — perhaps their life,” she says. “Conservative care will bring moderate weight loss over time, but if the patient is at high risk for a heart attack or stroke, there’s a sense of urgency. In these situations, surgery is usually the best place to begin. Being connected to the IFOH Weight Loss Surgery Program means I can make this recommendation and know that my patient will receive the best care available.”
Conversely, if a patient faces no urgent health risks and has never tried weight loss through diet and exercise, Dr. Moazzez may refer this person to Dr. Zalavadia. “Bariatric surgery is not a knee jerk reaction to lose weight, and its chance of success is slim without the patient’s commitment to serious lifestyle changes,” he says. “Because our two programs work hand-in-hand, I can recommend that a patient begin with our Medical Weight Loss Program, learn what that commitment entails, and then we can talk about surgery. It’s a seamless process, with the patient receiving all this individualized care within one system.”
Exceeding Her Weight Loss Goal
The educational process proved instrumental in Caitlyn’s 200-pound weight loss. In fact, her success exceeded her goal, so she’s undergoing a series of plastic surgery procedures to remove excess skin due to weight loss. “These procedures represent the final steps in completing the weight-loss journey,” notes Joseph Michaels, MD, FACS, board-certified plastic surgeon.
Caitlyn found the whole weight loss experience at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital encouraging. “After my first procedure, Dr. Moazzez stopped by my hospital room to see how I was doing. I think he enjoys my success as much as I do,” Caitlyn says. “That kind of support is so positive. It makes me feel confident about the future.”
Rethinking Obesity
The American Medical Association’s (AMA) policy statement recognizes obesity as a disease that requires a range of medical interventions to advance obesity treatment and prevention.
In full agreement with the AMA, Dr. Moazzez equates obesity with a chronic disease, which the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics defines as a disease that will not disappear on its own and cannot be prevented with vaccines or cured by medication.
“As a society, we have to learn how to think differently about obesity. Like any chronic condition, obesity requires long term, individualized care. And it’s no one’s ‘fault,’” he says.
To facilitate the learning process and provide ongoing care and support, Inova offers a robust series of free weight loss seminars, live webinars and workshops. These educational programs delve into Inova’s two weight loss programs, the Inova Weight Loss Surgery Program and the Inova Medical Weight Loss Program.
Individuals learn about:
-Weight loss options, from surgical to non-surgical choices
-How to select the best weight loss option to fit individual lifestyle and health needs
-Inova’s full spectrum of weight loss care — all under one roof
To suit your schedule, Inova’s weight loss seminars, live webinars and workshops are conveniently held during both daytime and evening hours. For more information, call 703.348.4716 or visit inova.org/weightloss.