Ready to Take Control of Your Weight?
Nutrition Counseling
Learn MoreMinimally Invasive Surgery
Learn MoreMedical Weight Management
Learn MoreBariatric Surgery
Learn MoreWeight Loss is a journey that starts with a single step and ends with better health. If you want to achieve or maintain a healthy weight, the team of experts at WakeMed is here for you.
From our board-certified physicians with expertise in medically-directed weight loss, to bariatric surgery and non-surgical weight loss procedures, to our multidisciplinary team of diet and exercise specialists, we enjoy working closely with our patients to determine the best path to good health. Because, in the end, it’s not just what you lose; it’s the health, confidence – and all the other good things – that you gain.
Offering a full continuum of services, WakeMed is committed to supporting patients on their journey to losing weight – or simply maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you.
Bariatric Surgery
You may be a good candidate for bariatric surgery if you:
- Have a BMI of ≥30 (ASMBS BMI calculator)*
- Are 55 pounds or more overweight
- Want a long-term weight loss solution
- Have been unsuccessful with previous attempts to lose weight
WakeMed Cary Hospital is a certified Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Our team of experienced bariatric surgeons has been helping patients achieve weight loss and better health through the latest surgical procedures.
*The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recognizes a patient with a BMI over 30 with comorbidities as a good candidate for bariatric surgery. However, insurance providers consider a patient with a BMI over 35 with comorbidities to be good candidate for bariatric surgery. In the case that insurance won't cover the procedure, we do have self-pay options for patients concerned enough about their health to proceed with surgery outside of insurance.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
You may be a candidate for minimally invasive weight loss procedures if you:
- Have have a BMI of 30-40
- Are 30 pounds or more overweight
- Are not interested in or not eligible for surgery
- Want a reversible or temporary jump-start for weight loss
- Have been unsuccessful with previous attempts to lose weight
WakeMed and its partnering physicians offer a variety of minimally invasive weight loss procedures. From multiple intragastric balloon options to advanced technologies such as endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), WakeMed has the solution to help you achieve your weight goals.
Medical Weight Management
You are a candidate for medical weight management if you:
- There are no BMI restrictions for medical weight management
- Are not interested in or not eligible for surgery
- Are seeking medical guidance in losing weight or maintaining healthy weight
- Are a surgical or procedural patient who wants long-term support
Working one-on-one with a board-certified bariatric medicine physician and a multidisciplinary team of specialists to develop a customized weight loss plan, patients can lose weight in a supportive environment without the need for surgery or procedures. Medical weight management is also a great service for patients who have already undergone surgery or a procedure and need ongoing support to maintain a healthy weight.
Nutritional Services
You are a candidate for an nutritional services if you:
- There are no BMI restrictions for nutritional services
- Are not interested in or not eligible for surgery
- Seeking professional guidance on healthy eating, nutrition
- Great for patients with restricted diets, food allergies/intolerances
Managing a healthy diet on your own can be challenging – nutritional science is always changing and everyone has varying dietary preferences and restrictions. WakeMed’s Outpatient Nutrition Counselors provide personalized education and coaching to help you on your journey to better health and long-term weight loss.
WakeMed Weight Loss Blog
December 24, 2023
It Takes a Village: Tanya Blue's Cardiac Arrest Story
Back to work from Thanksgiving break and eager to get her students focused and on track before winter break — Tanya Blue was in her second grade classroom at a private school in Knightdale, NC, administering a spelling test. Then, the unexpected happened. “It was December 1, 2023. I remember standing in front of the […]
December 20, 2023
Surviving and Thriving After Tragedy Bentleys ESG Weight Loss Journey
At WakeMed, we provide patients from all walks of life with life-changing, state-of-the-art treatments to advance their health care. The Advanced Gastrointestinal Center at WakeMed Cary Hospital is one of our centers where we specialize in top to bottom care for the entire digestive system — from the esophagus to the colon — we diagnose […]
June 9, 2023
Resist the Comfort Zone with Strength Training
The legendary band, The Delta Rhythm Boys, had it right when they wrote the lyrics for “dem dry bones.” As adults age, minerals begin to leech out of the bones, leaving them brittle, fragile and prone to breaking. This condition, known as osteoporosis, may seem inevitable, but with a little work, adults can protect their […]
May 24, 2023
Step It Up — Try Nordic Walking for Total-Body Health
In the winter, cross-country skiing is a sport favored by many, blending exercise with fresh, mountain air and scenic snowy terrain. However, given our local climate where snow and skiing are rare opportunities, we have Nordic walking to fill the gap. Nordic walking offers a higher intensity workout when brisk walking isn’t quite enough. It […]
April 3, 2023
Let's Play Pickleball — Fun and Easy Sport Offers Numerous Heart Healthy Benefits
April is National Pickleball Month, and it gives us a good incentive to encourage participation in this heart-healthy sport. Borrowing elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball is one of the most popular new sport trends to sweep the nation. In 2022, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) reported that pickleball is America’s fastest-growing […]
November 10, 2022
Alexis Harris Gets Her Teen Confidence Back Through WakeMed Children's Pediatric Weight Management
Bubbly and extraverted, Alexis Harris loves listening to music and making TikTok dance videos — similar to many teenagers. Thrice exceptional (diagnosed with ADHD, autism and a learning disability), she lights up when asked about her school — East Wake High, favorite subject — math, and hopes for the future — advocacy. Alexis plans to […]
May 27, 2022
A New Beginning After Bariatric Surgery Jamie Michaels Story
Obesity impacted every aspect of Jamie Michael’s life, from numerous health issues to isolation from loved ones. Eventually, with the help of his primary care provider, Marie Debnam, MD, Jamie determined that medical intervention was no longer an option; it was necessary. So, on January 15, 2021, Jamie underwent gastric bypass surgery. “I decided to […]
May 4, 2022
139 Pounds Down and Counting — Kristina Plane's Duodenal Switch Story
Losing weight is tough and the busier life is — with work, family and more — the harder it is t...