When choosing a weight loss solution, it’s important to consider both effectiveness and cost. Two popular options are Gastric Sleeve surgery and weight loss injections with medications which aid in weight loss. While both options can help patients achieve their goals, the long-term costs and benefits differ significantly.

Gastric Sleeve: A One-Time Investment in Your Health

The Gastric Sleeve procedure, priced at $9,999 for self-pay patients, reduces the size of the stomach to help limit food intake and promote weight loss. As a permanent procedure, the one-time cost covers surgery, hospital stay, and one year of follow-up appointments. Once completed, patients typically experience significant and sustained weight loss after 10 years without needing ongoing medication.¹

One important point to note is that many individuals qualify for Gastric Sleeve surgery, even if their BMI isn’t extremely high. It’s not just for those with severe obesity—patients with lower BMI but other health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, may also be eligible. These individuals often see longer-term benefits and higher success rates with surgery compared to ongoing medications. For those seeking a more cost-effective and long-term solution, Gastric Sleeve surgery can offer excellent value with no recurring costs after the initial procedure.

Weight Loss Injections: Effective But Expensive Long-Term

GLP-1 weight loss medications have shown promising results for patients aiming to shed pounds. However, they come with a hefty price tag of up to $1,000 per month. Over the course of a year, patients may end up spending $12,000, and the cost continues as long as they rely on the medication to maintain their results. While weight loss injections may work for some, it can quickly become a financial burden, especially considering the ongoing expense.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery: The Cost-Effective Choice

Surgery is a one-and-done solution, offering long-term success with no additional costs after the initial investment.² In contrast, those who take weight loss medications like often regain the weight as soon as they stop taking the medication.³ For individuals seeking a permanent weight loss solution that won’t break the bank over time, Gastric Sleeve surgery is a clear winner. The upfront cost is lower than the annual expense of many GLP-1’s, and the results can be long-lasting without the need for continued medication.

At Heartland Weight Loss Clinic, in addition to all-inclusive self-pay pricing, we offer financing options through CareCredit and United Medical Credit, allowing you to break up the cost of your Gastric Sleeve procedure into manageable payments.

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re ready to take control of your weight loss journey, contact Heartland Weight Loss Clinic today to explore your options. Discover how Gastric Sleeve surgery can help you achieve long-term success without the ongoing cost of medications.

¹ Obesity Surgery. Long-Term Results of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Review of Studies Reporting 10+ Years Outcomes. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10603075/. Accessed October 17, 2024.
² Obesity Surgery. Sleeve Gastrectomy as Sole and Definitive Bariatric Procedure: 5-Year Results for Weight Loss and Ghrelin. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11695-009-0066-6. Accessed October 17, 2024.
³ Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35441470/. Accessed October 17, 2024.

Can parents encourage childhood obesity among their kids?  It’s possible through genetics and the environment a parent creates.

Have you heard the saying, “I want to be the person that I hope my kid(s) grow up to be?”  I translate that as, “I hope my kids don’t inherit my own shortcomings and turn out to be better than I am.”  Let’s apply that concept to our health.  For example, would a smoker encourage their child to take up smoking?  I would hope not.  Additionally, would an overweight parent want their children to be obese?  Probably not.  So, let’s look at how poor health habits trickle down from parent to child.

Obesity from parent to child

According to Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, a child has a 50% chance of experiencing childhood obesity if one of his or her parents is obese.  That child has an 80% chance of being obese if both parents are obese.  Genetics and environmental issues contribute to this relationship.

We can’t do much to improve genetic issues, but we can alter environmental issues.  An obese parent who makes poor nutrition choices for themselves provides the same foods to their children.  A parent who cannot physically accommodate their child’s busy extracurricular schedule might deny those activities.  As a result, children may receive poor nutrition and lead a more sedentary lifestyle and increased risk of childhood obesity.

Making healthy changes

A parent who refocuses their health on achieving a healthy weight could send positive ripple effects through future generations.  Obese parents shouldn’t be discouraged from making these changes.  Help is available to those who are ready to improve themselves personally making them better role models for their children.

Weight loss options

At Heartland Weight Loss Clinic, we offer medically guided weight loss programs featuring appetite suppressants, vitamin supplements and realistic levels of exercise.  You can use these programs on their own or pair them with weight loss surgery.  My team and I are ready to identify the obstacles that have kept you from losing weight in the past and get you over those hurdles to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Dr. Legrand, Owner & Surgeon
Heartland Weight Loss Clinic

I find it ironic that February is Heart Health month.  The year kicks off with all kinds of health goals and New Year’s resolutions.  By the time February rolls around, many of them are abandoned.  So, February being Heart Health month is almost a subliminal reminder that we need to keep pursuing our healthy new year’s resolutions.

Calorie intake and its relationship to heart health

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do for your heart health, and there are several things you can do to keep your heart healthy.  For example, exercise, avoid fried foods and reduce your stress to keep your heart strong and pumping freely.  In addition, there’s another critical rule to follow to maintain a healthy heart, and this month’s invasion of heart-shaped chocolate candies inspired this blog.  Moderate your calorie intake.  

Calorie control simplified

Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School drills down calorie control into three simple steps:

1. Picture your plate as a peace sign with three equal sections. Fill each section of the plate with a lean, healthy foods from various food groups.  Fast food combos also come in threes, the entrée, side and drink, but don’t confuse that approach with the plate peace sign.  Instead, build your meal with lean meats, whole grains and veggies.  You’ll be making three wiser,  healthier decisions without “super sizing.”
2. Do not get seconds. Slow down when eating your meals.  Enjoy your food.  Limit your servings to just one plate.  You’ll find yourself feeling just as satisfied when you eat slowly and mindfully than if you sprint across your plate to go back for more.
3. Have three bites of anything indulgent. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you think you can avoid your favorite indulgent foods forever.  Make a plan for when you encounter those beloved sweet, salty or fried foods.  Take the first bite because you want it.  Have the second bite to be a rebel.  Savor the third bite the longest.  How many calories did you just avoid by limiting yourself to just three bites?  Go ahead.  Grab a calculator to add it all up.

Weight loss options

Making healthy food choices and reducing calorie intake are parts of Heartland Weight Loss Clinic’s medically guided weight loss plans.  Weight loss surgeries are also available for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater.  Our medically guided weight loss programs are often paired with weight loss procedures.

My team and I are ready to identify the obstacles that have kept you from losing weight in the past and get you over those hurdles to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Dr. Legrand, Owner & Surgeon
Heartland Weight Loss Clinic

Since the onset of COVID, we’ve all heard the patients with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable to the virus.  It’s easy easy to assume that this statement only qualifies for individuals with an autoimmune deficiency.  In reality, “the vulnerable” also includes obese patients.

Did you know that your weight can negatively affect your immunity just as it does your blood pressure, cholesterol and risk of heart disease?  The link between obesity and impaired immune function is gaining attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Researchers are scrambling to determine why some COVID patients tolerate the virus better than others.  They are noticing that a patient’s weight may contribute to negative COVID outcomes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, being obese may increase the risk of severe illness associated with COVID-19.  The risk of being hospitalized may be tripled for obese patients.  Obesity alone decreases lung capacity and lung reserves making ventilation more difficult.  These weight-related respiratory obstacles can be compounded by a serious respiratory virus such as COVID-19 leading to a longer, more difficult recover period for obese patients.

COVID remains a huge part of our daily lives, and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon.  So, now is the time to assess your weight and overall health.  A medically guided weight loss plan featuring appetite suppressants, vitamin supplements and exercise may be the support you need to achieve your weight loss goals.  If your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 40, weight loss surgery might be an option for you.  Having a BMI closer to 35 paired with weight-related health issues can also make you a candidate for weight loss surgery.

Either way, my team and I at Heartland Weight Loss Clinic are ready to evaluate your health, review the obstacles that have prevented you from losing weight in the past and help you overcome those hurdles.  Improving your health should always be a priority especially during the COVID pandemic.

Dr. Legrand, Owner & Surgeon
Heartland Weight Loss Clinic

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Tell me if this sounds familiar.  You’re watching television (insert your favorite series, sport, etc. here), and an advertisement for a prescription medication comes on.  The ad doesn’t last the typical thirty seconds.  No.  It’s at least a full minute long.  A big portion of that time is spent listing all the possible side effects that may be caused by the medication.  You probably ask yourself, “Who would want to take that medicine with the risk of experiencing all those side effects?”  Listing the dangers of obesity feels very similar.  

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) outlines The Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity on its website.  It cuts to the chase quickly and puts “all-causes of death (mortality)” at the top of its list.  Then, it goes into more specific, chronic conditions that can eventually contribute to its first line item; high blood pressure, high HDL cholesterol (the number you want to be low), low LDL cholesterol (the number you want to be high), high triglycerides and type 2 diabetes. 

Of course, those issues contribute to coronary heart disease and stroke, which are also on the list.  Lesser-known problems like gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, breathing problems, many types of cancer, low quality of life, mental illness and body pain round out the CDC’s list.  After considering all these things, you might ask yourself, “Who would want to risk experiencing all these effects?”

I know that no one actively chooses to take these risks.  There are many factors that contribute to obesity, some of which can’t be controlled.  Genetics certainly can’t be controlled.  Weight can also be a result of one’s environment.  I also realize that people struggling with their weight have probably tried to lose it on their own only to end up disappointed in themselves.  

For anyone who has endured these excuses and experiences, a medically guided weight loss program, and possibly surgery, might be the solution.  Under the supervision of a physician, these programs may include one or more features:

1. 1. Non-surgical weight loss program featuring appetite suppressant medication, dietary plan, exercise counseling, vitamin B12 injections, vitamin optimization, protein supplements and monitoring of body composition (muscle, water and fat)
   2. Mental counseling
   3. Surgical weight loss solution such as gastric bypass, gastric sleeve or duodenal switch

My team and I at Heartland Weight Loss Clinic offer these services so our patients don’t have to endure the long list of obesity’s effects.  Plans and recommendations are customized according to each patient’s needs.  We can even help get approval from your insurance to help cover the costs.  No one should have to ask themselves, “Why am I putting myself at risk to experience all these things?”  Heartland Weight Loss Clinic has support and solutions available.