If you are looking to lose weight for good, turn to the Weight Loss Surgery and Wellness Center. We offer more services — and a higher level of experience — than any other weight loss program in Berks County.
Life-changing services and support.
If you have tried to lose weight through diet and exercise without success, it may be time to see a doctor who specializes in weight loss.
We’ll help you decide whether to pursue medical or surgical weight loss based on several criteria. These criteria include your body mass index (BMI), how much weight you need to lose to be healthier, and whether you have any weight-related medical conditions such as diabetes or sleep apnea.
Surgical Weight Loss
The phrase “bariatric surgery” refers to several surgical procedures performed within the digestive tract. These procedures help you lose weight by reducing the amount of food you eat, sometimes rerouting the path of food through the body to reduce absorption, and reducing hunger usually associated with dieting.
Our fellowship-trained bariatric surgeons offer several procedures:
- Gastric sleeve surgery (sleeve gastrectomy). Your surgeon removes roughly 80 percent of your stomach, leaving only a small, banana-shaped “sleeve” intact. The remaining sleeve can only hold a small amount of food, making you feel satiated sooner. This surgery also reduces the hunger hormones in your body, making you less hungry even though your meals are small.
- Gastric bypass surgery. This common bariatric procedure reduces the size of your stomach and reroutes the path of food through your body so food “bypasses” the first third of your small intestine after leaving the stomach. You will feel satiated with small meals and absorb fewer calories.
- Duodenal switch surgery. This procedure combines the sleeve gastrectomy (removing most of the stomach) and intestinal bypass (reducing the absorption of calories in the small intestine). It is a more aggressive option that typically leads to greater weight loss and a lower risk of obesity recurrence, and is reserved for people with a BMI greater than 50. We offer both traditional duodenal switch and the newer approach called the “single anastomosis duodenal switch” (also referred to as the SIPS, SADI, or Loop DS procedure).
- Bariatric revision surgery. In certain cases, we offer a second bariatric procedure (often referred to as revision surgery) for people who had complications or poor results following their first operation. Revision surgery may fix problems or may help you get back on track if you didn’t lose enough weight after your first surgery.
We use minimally invasive techniques for all these surgeries, which may cause less pain with fewer complications and a faster recovery.
To request a surgical weight loss consultation, please first watch our online seminar and then fill out the consultation request form.
Bariatric Surgery Eligibility
You may be a candidate for bariatric surgery if you:
- Have a BMI of 35 or more; or
- Have a BMI of 30 to 34.9 with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea; and
- Have tried to lose weight through diet and exercise without success
Although these are the recommendations of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, not all insurance carriers have incorporated these new guidelines into their current plan coverages.
Nonsurgical Weight Loss
Our medical weight loss program is an ideal option for people who want to lose weight but are not interested in (or eligible for) bariatric surgery.
Unlike commercial weight loss products and fad diets that promise a “quick fix,” our weight management services are supervised by a team of specialists, including obesity medicine doctors, registered dietitians, exercise specialists, and psychologists.
We specialize in:
- Helping you understand all the behavioral and lifestyle choices that contribute to weight gain, so you achieve results that last
- Creating customized diet and exercise plans
- Providing prescription medicine you may need to supplement your diet and exercise plan
- Offering professional guidance and support, including one-on-one counseling
All of our medical weight loss patients also have access to our unique onsite amenities, including our teaching kitchen.
To schedule a medical weight loss consultation, please call our office at 484-628-5673.
Nonsurgical Weight Loss Eligibility
You may be a candidate for our medical weight loss program if you:
- Have a BMI of 30 or more; or
- Have a BMI of 27 or more with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea; and
- Have not been able to maintain weight loss on your own
Adolescent Weight Loss
- Video Transcript
Visual: Man riding bicycle, Parent walking with child, Woman canoeing on lake, Woman riding on scooter
Narration: Prevention of weight gain is always the best strategy to avoid obesity. Unfortunately, this is not always successful and more help is required to reverse the abnormal weight gain. At the Healthy Kids and Teens Weight Program at Reading Hospital our team is dedicated to your child’s success and includes...
Visual: Illustration of group of doctors, APPs, and nurses
Narration: …Pediatricians, Registered Dietitians, Social Workers, Nurse Practitioners, Psychologists, Pediatric Nurses, and Surgeons.
Visual: Chalkboard with silhouette of person with obesity
On-screen text: Obesity is a Medical Disease
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal cholesterol
- Liver disease
- Bone/joint abnormalities
- Depression
- Bullying/missed school
Narration: Obesity in children and adolescents is a common medical disease that can lead to other diseases including diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, liver disease, and bone and joint abnormalities. Obesity may also contribute to depression and social issues such as bullying and missing school. Usually, this continues into adulthood and is likely to contribute to increased risk of heart disease and cancer and a shorter life span.
On-screen text:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Shorter lifespan
Narration: There are many causes, but few effective solutions.
On-screen text: Diet, Exercise, and Behavioral Changes
Narration: Diet, exercise, and behavior changes are important and can work for some and may help a person to lose five percent of their weight, but ultimately it is difficult to maintain. Generally, diet and exercise are not enough for ninety-five percent of children and adolescents struggling with weight.
On-screen text: Medication-based therapy
Narration: In addition to diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes, anti-obesity medications can be included to help children and teens decrease their weight. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends anti-obesity medications for some children twelve and older struggling with weight. Some medications may be taken by mouth each day. Another option is to receive a weekly injection at home. These medications decrease appetite and food cravings. The medications must be continued, or the weight is likely to recur. Most patients tolerate the medications well, but potential side effects are possible and will be discussed with you by the pediatrician. A person could expect to lose around thirty pounds with the help of anti-obesity medications.
On-screen text: More than 90% are treated with lifestyle changes with or without medications
Narration: More than ninety percent of the individuals that come to the Healthy Kids and Teens program for care are treated with lifestyle changes -- with or without the assistance of anti-obesity medicines.
On-screen text: Weight-loss Surgery
Narration: However, for some teens over thirteen with more severe weight gain, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends weight loss surgery as a possible best option. In our program, the teen is evaluated by the entire team and only meets with the surgeon if the family expresses interest in learning more about surgery. The teen is seen in our clinic for six visits or more, each one month apart, before they may qualify for surgery.
Visual: Illustration of abdomens of two individuals with weight loss surgery, one with a straight line going down the middle, and the other with several incision dots
Narration: Like all surgery, there is some surgical risk involved although the risk is much lower in adolescents than adults. Previously, the open-generation surgical procedures were done by creating a large incision in the abdomen, which led to increased complications. Today, laparoscopic-generation surgical procedures use five small incisions, each about one half inch long, which reduces complications significantly. Although there are other operations recommended in adults, we believe that the best procedure for adolescents is usually a gastric sleeve.
On-screen text: Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Sleeve
Visual: Illustration of stomach with dotted line along it, and removing stomach on one side of line
Narration: This operation surgically reduces the size of the stomach from a small watermelon to the size of a banana. This limits the amount of food that can be consumed, as well as reduces the hunger hormone and also reduces food cravings. This is a surgical procedure, not an implant.
Visual: Illustration of female patient
On-screen text: Gastric Sleeve Operation
- Procedure takes 1 hour
- One night in hospital
- Return to school/work in 2 weeks
- Lose average 100 lbs.
Narration: The operation is usually a gastric sleeve operation that is performed laparoscopically and takes about one hour. The teen usually spends one night in the hospital and is discharged to home the following day. They can return to school or work in two weeks. In our program these individuals lose an average of one hundred pounds and resolve many of their obesity related medical problems such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure.
On-screen text: Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Sleeve
Visual: Illustration of scale with advantages appearing in text on left side, and disadvantages appearing in text over the right side
On-screen text: Advantages
- No rerouting of the intestine
- Less short-term, long-term risks
- Resolution of most obesity-related medical problems
- Average of 100 lbs. weight loss
Disadvantages:
- Vitamins are recommended
- May experience acid reflux
- Diabetes
Narration: Advantages of the gastric sleeve procedure is that the intestine is not re-routed, thus eliminating malabsorption. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are less likely to occur than with other weight loss operations. However, we still recommend some supplemental vitamins and minerals following this operation. There are also lower short-term and long-term risks. Gastric sleeve surgery in adolescents usually resolves diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. A disadvantage is that some patients may experience acid reflux. If this occurs, it can be treated with acid-reducing medications.
On-screen text: Overall Risks. Most operative risks are within 3 weeks of surgery.
Visual: Icon visual of gastric sleeve (stomach separated along the middle)
Visual: Meter with colors going from green to red, indicator resting on green, indicating low risk
Narration: All surgical procedures carry risks. Fortunately, adolescents usually have fewer medical problems compared to adults and, therefore, have lower risks of complications. Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you at your surgical consult.
Visual: Green chalkboard
On-screen text: Risks of Gastric Sleeve in Adolescence is Lower Than Adults
Overall risk of a teen having a serious complication is only about 1%.
Visual: Table showing stats for Sleeve Gastrectomy
On-screen text:
Staple line leak - 0.11%
Bleeding - 0.43%
Infection - 0.13%
Blood clot - 0.1%
Readmission - 2.68%
Reoperation - 0.5%
Reference: American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). 30-Day Occurrences Report, Chicago: American College of Surgeons.
Narration: Only one of one hundred patients will have anything on this list: leak from staple line, bleeding, infection, blood clot, readmission, or a required return to the operating room. That means that ninety-nine of one hundred adolescents that have a gastric sleeve operation will not have a significant complication. Mortality following a gastric sleeve operation has not been reported in adolescent studies.
On-screen text: What are the Risks of Doing Nothing?
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal cholesterol
- Liver disease
Visual: Meter with colors going from green to red, indicator moves from green all the way to red, indicating high risk
Narration: The risk of doing nothing is high, and includes the possible development of medical problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, and liver disease.
Visual: Toolbox with scalpel icon with plus sign underneath
Visual: Bowl of produce, plus sing, barbells, plus sign, and head icon with plus sign icon
On-screen text: Nutrition + Exercise + Mental Health
Narration: We want to remind our patients that anti-obesity medicines and surgery are only a tool to control hunger and portion size. Our program helps you to obtain the very best result by combining nutrition, exercise, and mental health.
On-screen text: Healthy kids, Healthy Teens
484-628-5673
Narration: If your child or adolescent is struggling with their weight and you would like help for your child contact us at Healthy Kids and Teens by calling 484-628-5673.
On-screen text: TowerHealth.org/HealthyKidsHealthyWeight
Narration: Thank you for watching this video and good luck with your child’s weight loss journey!
If your child or teen is overweight and you are concerned about their physical or mental health, you’ve come to the right place. The Weight Loss Surgery and Wellness Center has expertise in helping kids safely lose weight and embrace a healthy lifestyle.
Not only do we offer a medically supervised, nonsurgical weight loss program for children of all ages, but we can also perform surgery on a carefully selected, case-by-case basis starting at age 15.
Every child who comes through our program receives comprehensive, team-based care. We focus on meeting your child’s medical, nutritional, social, and emotional needs — and setting them up for better, lifelong health.
To schedule an adolescent weight loss consultation, please call our office at 484-628-5673.
Nonsurgical Weight Loss Eligibility for Children
Your child or teen may be a candidate for our medical weight loss program if they have a BMI at or above the 85th percentile for their age and have not been able to lose weight on their own.
Bariatric Surgery Eligibility for Teens
Your child may meet the criteria for bariatric surgery if they:
- Are 15 or older; and
- Have a BMI that is at or above the 85th percentile for their age; and
- Have not been able to lose weight on their own