SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Weight loss surgery is a well-established treatment for obesity, but as many patients who have undergone bariatric surgery have discovered, it is also effective in eliminating or reducing many diseases and disorders that severely overweight people experience.

“Obesity is more than a matter of excess or unwanted weight. It significantly impacts a person’s overall health,” said Regional West bariatric surgeon Jeffrey Holloway, MD, FACS. “Obesity negatively affects nearly every organ in the body and contributes to hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, reflux, back and joint pain, immobility, and many other serious health problems. The good news is, in addition to dramatically reducing weight, bariatric surgery can resolve or improve these conditions.”   

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), individuals affected by severe obesity are often unable to maintain weight loss achieved by conventional therapies, such as consuming fewer calories, increasing exercise, and weight-loss programs. The NIH says bariatric surgery can improve many of the medical conditions linked to obesity, especially type 2 diabetes.

As a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, Regional West is the region’s referral resources for weight loss surgery. The medical center has a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in helping people successfully lose weight and keep it off.

For nearly 20 years, Dr. Holloway has specialized in adjustable laparoscopic gastric band surgery. His partner, Jason LaTowsky, MD, is fellowship-trained in both the laparoscopic gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures.

“Our goal is to help people live healthier lives by helping them lose weight and sustain a healthy weight. It’s a team effort,” said Regional West bariatric surgeon Jason LaTowsky, MD. “We provide all the resources from free consultations to help patients decide if they want bariatric surgery, to nutritional counseling, to a post-op support group, and the assistance of a bariatric coordinator to ensure personalized care every step of the way.”

Regional West offers both surgical and nonsurgical weight loss options.  Monthly meetings of the Bariatric Support Group are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Keith Room at Regional West Medical Center.

For more information about bariatric surgery at Regional West visit RWMCWeightLossOptions.com or call Bariatric Coordinator Becca Lattin, RN, at 308-630-2249.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.