Clarian News and Updates

Hello, my name is Terri Hohlt and I am the program manager for Clarian Bariatrics. I am a registered nurse and have worked at Clarian Health for 30 years. Most of my years of experience have been at Methodist Hospital, before I joined the Bariatric service line in February 2006. I am married with two children. My husband and I will be empty nester’s by August as both of our kids are getting married this summer. We are excited for the next phase of our lives enjoying our financial freedom and time together to travel! It is a pleasure for me to be part of the Clarian Bariatric team.  You truly spend more time with your “work family” then you do at home and I couldn’t ask for a better team to spend my days with.

I know we are all guilty of reaching to our "comfort foods" when life gets hectic. Do you think it is true? That stress leads us to eat unhealthier foods? Full text of the article from USA Today can be found by clicking here.

Many people say they eat more when they are under stress. Others eat less.

But people under chronic stress are more likely than others to say they eat fattening foods and feel that their eating is out of control, according to a study presented at a recent meeting of the Obesity Society.

In one of the largest surveys ever to examine the relationship between chronic stress and eating behaviors, researchers at the University of California-San Francisco questioned more than 600 women who were overweight or obese about their eating habits and life stressors.

This operation is the most common and successful malabsorptive surgery. First, a small stomach pouch is created to restrict food intake. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the lower stomach, the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine), and the first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). This bypass reduces the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs. It is the primary surgery performed by The Clarian Bariatric Center.

This operation can be performed either by a traditional open surgery or laparoscopically, a relatively new technology using a small video camera and a few customized instruments to perform surgery with minimal tissue damage. The Roux-en-Y technique is generally more effective in reversing health problems associated with severe obesity. Patients who have malabsorptive operations generally lose two-thirds of their excess weight within two years.

Join us for an educational seminar to speak with our surgeons, nutritionists and past patients to learn how weight loss surgery can help you gain control of your weight, regain health and start a new life.

This Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. you are invited to visit our outpatient clinic on the northwest side of Indianapolis and have your questions answered about bariatric surgery costs, causes of obesity and sustainable weight loss options at the hands of our skilled Indianapolis staff.

If you are interested in attending, please fill out our online registration form or call 317-275-7010 or 877-275-2555 (toll free) to reserve your spot.

The following factors will be considered in determining if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery:

•     You have tried to lose weight by changing your eating habits and exercise and are still severely obese.
•     You are unable to perform routine daily activities without being seriously affected.
•     You understand the procedure and the lifestyle changes you will need to make after bariatric surgery.
•     You are motivated to make a lifelong behavioral commitment that includes well-balanced meals and physical exercise.
•     You understand that this surgery won't solve all your problems, but can make you healthier -- and probably much happier.

Before patients undergo surgery for morbid obesity, they must qualify for our bariatrics program. Our basic program guidelines are:

•     Being 100 pounds or more over your "ideal body weight," according to the established weight charts.
•     Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 with no co-morbidities or greater than 35 with serious co-morbidities.
•     Being able and willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes.

BMI Categories:

Underweight: less than18.5
Normal: 18.5-24.9
Overweight: 25.0-29.9
Obesity (Class 1): 30-34.9
Severe obesity (Class 2): 35-39.9
Severe obesity (Class 3): 40-49.9
Super-obesity: over 50

Learn more by joining us at a FREE informational seminar this week! Learn more at ACallToChange.org.

The success of your bariatric surgery depends greatly on your understanding that you MUST change your lifestyle. Having the surgery is only the beginning.

DIETARY CHANGES – You should be prepared to make substantial and permanent changes to your eating habits to ensure that you reach an ideal, healthy weight and maintain that weight. Dietary guidelines vary from surgeon to surgeon – the key is to adhere to the plan given to you by your surgeon. Here are some common dietary guidelines to follow after your surgery (confer with your surgeon for more detailed eating guidelines and lists of acceptable foods during various stages of recovery):

• Chew your food thoroughly and eat very slowly.
• Wait 2-3 minutes after swallowing before putting the next bite of food in your mouth. You will not be able to digest steaks or other chunks of meat if they are not ground or chewed thoroughly.
•  Learn to stop eating when you feel full. DON’T EAT UNTIL YOUR ARE STUFFED.
•  Don't drink fluids 30 minutes prior to eating, during your meal, or 30 minutes after your meal.
•  Don’t eat desserts and other items with sugar if they have more than 3 to 5 grams per serving size.
•  Avoid carbonated drinks, high-calorie nutritional supplements, milk shakes, foods high in fat, and foods that have no nutritional value.
•  Avoid alcohol.
•  Limit snacking between meals.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES – Your life will change dramatically… FOR THE BETTER. But you must always remember to

• Follow your dietary guidelines (eating larger portions or foods not recommended can result in gaining weight back)
• Establish and maintain a regular exercise plan (to build and keep muscle mass)
• Take your vitamin supplements regularly

Join us for an educational seminar to speak with our Indianapolis surgeons, nutritionists and past patients to learn how bariatric weight loss surgery can help you gain control of your weight, regain health and start a new life.

The next FREE seminar will be held at Clarian Bariatrics' INTECH Park location on Thursday, October 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  If you are interested in attending, please fill out our online registration form or call 317-275-7010 or 877-275-2555 (toll free) to reserve your spot.

I saw this editorial in the Pensacola News Journal and thought it was full of excellent information. The first few paragraphs are below and full text can be found by clicking on the link.

Obesity causes all sorts of health-related problems ranging from high-blood pressure to diabetes to heart disease. New research now shows that being fat is quickly becoming the second-leading cause of cancer behind smoking.
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The news is especially bad for women in Western countries in coming years as the obesity epidemic continues to put them at higher risk. Colorectal cancer, breast cancer in menopausal women and endometrial cancer accounted for 65 percent of all cancers linked to being fat.

Scientists still aren't sure why being fat boosts cancer risks, but suspect it is connected to hormones. As people become fatter, they produce more hormones like estrogen that help tumors grow. People with big bellies also have more acid in their stomachs, which can lead to stomach, intestinal or esophageal cancer.

As many of you know, Clarian Bariatrics is moving locations tomorrow! We aren't going far, though. Just across the street from our current location! During the rest of the week, the Clarian Bariatrics staff will be moving into a 30,000 square foot facility that will allow us more room for support group, exercise classes and exam rooms.

Our new address will be: 

Clarian Bariatrics
6640 Intech Blvd, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46278

Our Web sites will be update on Wednesday with new maps. Our phone numbers will remain the same.

We can't wait to see you in our new home!

If you have been considering learning more about bariatric surgery centers in Indiana or the various forms of weight loss surgery - including gastric bypass and Lap Band - please consider joining us at a FREE information seminar tonight at Clarian Bariatrics.

You, and your support person, are invited to listen to Indiana Weight Loss Doctors talk about the many benefits of bariatric surgery and how you can break the cycle of obesity and reclaim your life!

Seminar begins at 6:30 p.m. at our Indianapolis clinic located at 6625 Network Way, Suite 100. Please call us toll free at 877-275-2555 for more information. You can also register by clicking on the image to the right of this post.

See you tonight!

Are you considering bariatric weight loss surgery, but are not sure what to expect at one of our FREE seminars? Below is just a brief overview of how the process works.

From their very first visit at Clarian Bariatrics, all patients receive extensive education about the health problems with obesity, the presumed causes of the epidemic rise in obesity in Indiana and the U.S., the medical, psychological, social and economic consequences of obesity, and the keys to maintained successful weight loss.

These educational sessions are conducted by Indianapolis weight loss surgeons, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists and other experts. The sessions are also attended by former patients who provide a personal perspective of their experience and describe the challenges they faced after weight loss. Attendees are also provided with a tour of the facility and are given numerous references for further research.

From there, individuals can decide whether or not the time is right for Indianapolis area bariatric surgery and will schedule a consultation. In future posts, I will discuss what happens after the initial consultation. In the meantime, if you have questions, please call us toll free at 877-275-2555.

A short read from the New York Times that I wanted to share with you all.

Children born to women who had bariatric surgery for obesity may face a lower risk of severe obesity themselves, a study suggests.

The study, of 111 children born to 49 mothers who had a type of weight-loss surgery called biliopancreatic diversion, found that babies born after the operation had lower birth weights than those born before, and their risk of becoming severely obese as children was one-third the risk of those born before. Only 11 percent of the children born after surgery were severely obese, compared with 35 percent of the others.

Children born after the operation also had better cholesterol levels and improved insulin sensitivity, indicating they might be less likely to develop heart disease and diabetes later in life, the researchers found.

Two notes of caution about the paper, to be published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism: The findings are based on observation of the children (the study was not randomized and controlled), and bariatric surgery can lead to complications like anemia, malnutrition, loss of bone density and, rarely, death.

An author of the paper, Dr. John Kral, a professor of surgery and medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, said the benefits to the children might be due to metabolic and hormonal changes in the wombs of women who have had the operation.

Clarian Bariatrics is pleased to offer free support groups at various locations throughout central Indiana. Attend support group meetings to learn about ways you can build lasting motivation and overcome the biggest challenges to your exercise and nutrition success.  Learn strategies, ask questions and the receive support you need during your journey.  Participate in activities that help you discover new ways to stay motivated, cope with physical changes and incorporate lifestyle changes into your everyday life. Pick up a calendar or check the events section to see the different topics covered at each class.

Support groups are held at the following locations:

• The Clarian Bariatrics clinic located at 6625 Network Way, Suite 100, in the INTECH Park office complex, Indianapolis. Support groups are held on the first Tuesday (large group) and third Tuesday (small groups) from 6 - 7 p.m. and each Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ("Walk the Talk" lunch group)
• Clarian Health Cicero located at 1160 South Peru St., SR 19 in Cicero. Support group is held on the second Thursday of the month from 6 - 7 p.m.
• Ball Memorial Hospital located at 2901 W. Jackson Street in Muncie. Support group is held on the first Wednesday of the month from 6 - 7 p.m.
• Pre-Surgery Coping Skills Group held each Thursday at the Clarian Bariatrics clinic from 4 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. This group is designed to explore changing family and friend relationships and social situations, including how to survive eating in social situations, how to respond to people who "push" food on you, and how to cope with people's reactions to your new weight loss and lifestyle. This group is free, but we ask that you please call 317-275-7010 or 877-275-2555 prior to attending.

Please visit A Call to Change Web site for the most updated support group schedule and topics. Teleconferencing is also available to Clarian affiliate hospitals throughout the state.

Join us for an educational seminar to speak with our surgeons, nutritionists and past patients to learn how weight loss surgery can help you gain control of your weight, regain health and start a new life.

At the seminar you can learn about bariatric surgery costs, Indianapolis weight loss surgery options and hear from Indiana Bariatric Surgeons about the ins and outs of surgery. Please feel free to bring as many support people with you as you like.

WHEN:  Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE:  Clarian Bariatrics (6625 Network Way, Suite 100 - Indianapolis)

Please click here to RSVP or call 317-275-7010 with questions.

Clarian Bariatrics recently announced a partnership with Ball Memorial Hospital, and through this partnership we are pleased to offer FREE informational seminars in the Muncie, Anderson, Gas City and Richmond area.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 6:00 P.M.
Ball Memorial Hospital, 2901 W. Jackson St., Muncie, IN

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 6:00 P.M.
Hampton Inn, 455 Commerce Road, Richmond, IN (Exit 156A off I-70)

Visit ACallToChange.org and RSVP by calling 765-747-4410.

Another great article from the Advisory board regarding common questions/concerns individuals have prior to undergoing weight loss surgery. I have put the highlights below, but would welcome anyone interested in bariatric surgery to visit us at an upcoming FREE seminar to ask even more questions. Dates can be found at ACallToChange.org.

Addressing earlier concerns about the safety of bariatric surgery, a study published yesterday in New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) finds that the overall risk of death and other adverse outcomes among patients who have the procedures is low, although the risks vary considerably depending on patient characteristics.

For the study, a researcher from the University of Washington in Seattle and colleagues conducted a prospective multicenter observational study involving 4,776 first-time bariatric surgery patients who had procedures at 10 U.S. hospitals.

...The researchers found that among the patients who had gastric-bypass or gastric-banding procedures, the 30-day mortality rate was 0.3% and a composite outcome consisting of mortality, deep vein thrombosis, venous thromboembolism, reintervention, or failure to be discharged within 30 days after surgery occurred in 4.1% of patients. None of the patients who underwent gastric banding procedures died, while 0.2% of patients who had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass died and 2.1% of the patients who had open Roux-en-Y died.

...Commenting on the findings, the researchers suggest that providers discussing bariatric surgery with patients should examine the short-term risks of the procedure “in the context of the long-term health effects of surgically induced weight loss on coexisting health conditions, the long-term risks of the bariatric surgery itself, the competing risk of death from extreme obesity, and the relative benefits of the rate and durability of weight loss.” Meanwhile, in an accompanying editorial, a surgeon from Harvard Medical School notes that the rates of mortality and adverse outcomes seen in the study are “similar to those seen in other major operations,” adding that while the nation should strive to better treat obesity without the use of surgical interventions, “until we get to that point, the weight of the evidence indicates that bariatric surgery is safe, effective, and affordable”

We sent out this information earlier in the week, and I wanted to share it with you. We are thrilled at all the changes coming to Clarian Bariatrics, and we realize it would not be possible without your continued support! You guys are the best!

Exciting changes are in store for Clarian Bariatrics this summer as the program announced the addition of two full-time surgeons and a move to a new 30,000 square foot outpatient clinic to better accommodate the rapidly growing program, which has experienced double digit growth the past three years.

Dr. Daniel T. McKenna will join the surgical team of Clarian Bariatrics, a designated Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), on August 10. Dr. McKenna joins the programs five other bariatric surgeons who completed nearly 400 surgeries at Clarian North Medical Center in 2008.

A Wisconsin native, McKenna comes to Clarian Bariatrics from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., where he completed his minimally invasive surgery fellowship. He is a graduate of Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and his Doctor of Medicine. McKenna was a categorical resident in general surgery at the University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin.

In April, Dr. Jack Ditslear joined the Clarian Bariatrics staff full-time after working on a part-time basis with the program since its launch in 2004. A Noblesville native, Dr. Ditslear graduated with honors in chemistry at Miami University of Ohio and then graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Dr. Ditslear carries a vast amount of experience in bariatric surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeons, and is also accredited as a Bariatric Center of Excellence Surgeon by the Surgical Review Corporation. Additionally, Dr. Ditslear is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is on the teaching staff for the Indiana University General Surgery Residence program. 

“We are thrilled to have Drs. McKenna and Ditslear join the surgery staff at Clarian Bariatrics on a full-time basis,” Jonathan Goble, FACHE, President & CEO of Clarian North Medical Center, said. “The addition of these two skilled surgeons will aid in the successful implementation of many exciting programs.”

Among those initiatives is the launch of a non-surgical division for the weight loss program and an adolescent bariatric program. In addition, an exercise program championed by Erin Light, a certified personal trainer, will begin in August and provide patients an educational approach to personally-tailored exercise programs. Also, William Hilgendorf, PhD, Manager of Bariatric Behavioral Health, has implemented a behavioral program that will increase the coping skills of post-operative patients and improve patient outcomes.

These new patient support opportunities fit with the already established and popular weekly support groups and quarterly cooking classes. Programs like these have led Clarian Bariatrics to be nationally recognized as a robust program that enjoys some of the best weight loss outcomes in effectiveness and durability.

Due to the ongoing program growth, the Clarian Bariatrics outpatient clinic will move from its current location in building 11 of Intech Park to a 30,000 square foot space in building 10 of Intech Park, located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. This move will provide staff with more exam rooms, dedicated exercise rooms and additional meeting space for support groups and the non-surgical weight loss program.

“The growth our program has experienced over the past five years has been remarkable and humbling,” Samer Mattar, MD, FACS, Medical Director of Clarian Bariatrics, said. “Our staff, surgeons and patients have helped us create a unique program that is only beginning to reach its full potential.”

Another interesting read from the Advisory Board. Highlights are below:

Total health care expenditures for the nation’s obese adult population increased by more than 80 percent between 2001 and 2006 to reach $303.1 billion, according to a statistical brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Based on data from the agency’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the report also found that mean annual health care expenditures for obese adults increased from $3,458 in 2001 to $5,148 in 2006 and that the proportion of total health care expenditures attributed to obese adults increased from 28.1 percent to 35.3 percent, while the proportion of spending attributed to normal-weight adults decreased from 35 percent to 30.3 percent.

According to the report, the number of obese adults—defined as individuals with a body mass index of or above 30—grew by almost 11 million between 2001 and 2006, rising from 48.2 million to 58.9 million people. In addition, in both 2001 and 2006, the country’s adult obese population had the highest proportion of individuals reporting at least one chronic condition—including diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, stroke, emphysema, and arthritis—at 57.1 percent and 59.7 percent, respectively.

...With the exception of Colorado—which had an obesity rate of 18.5 percent—all states in 2008 had obesity rates of at least 20 percent. Mississippi had the highest rate, at 32.8 percent, followed by Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia, which all had obesity rates of at least 30 percent. Illustrating the “dramatic increase” in the nation’s obese population, the CDC highlighted data from a 1990 survey indicating that at that time, no states had an obesity rate of 15 percent or higher.

Noting that obesity is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases, the director of the CDC’s division of nutrition, physical activity, and obesity says that “among all age groups, we are seeing chronic diseases in much younger adults compared to a few decades ago,” adding that some young adults now suffer from risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, conditions that were “unheard of in the past.”

Are you ready to break the cycle of failed weight loss plans and finally experience sustainable and effective weight loss through the use of bariatric surgery? Then join us at a FREE informational seminar in Indianapolis or at other locations throughout Indiana. We are here to help you. Click on the image at the right of this post to view upcoming dates and to get registered.

I found this article on the Advisory Board Web site and found the statistics very startling. Unfortunately, I cannot link you to the full article, but the highlights are below. Please feel free to leave me a comment if you have any questions about medically supervised weight loss for your and your family.

The number of hospitalizations among children between the ages of 2 and 19 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of obesity nearly doubled from 21,743 in 1999 to 42,429 in 2005, even though obesity prevalence held relatively steady across that timeframe, according to a study published on the Health Affairs website.

...Moreover, the data showed a statistically significant increase in the number of obesity-related hospitalizations for a number of conditions, among them asthma, diabetes, pneumonia, appendicitis, and skin and subcutaneous tissue infections. Examining the economic consequence of childhood obesity, the researchers found that total costs for children with obesity-related hospitalizations rose to $237.6 million in 2005—up from $125.9 million in 2001, measured in 2005 dollars.

...Commenting on their findings, the researchers advise interpreting the results “with caution,” given that the analysis relied on physician and provider diagnoses of obesity—which are “a product of clinical judgment and reimbursement by hospital payers and [are] subject to inaccuracy”—rather than a fixed definition of obesity.

In addition, they speculate that some of the increase in the number of hospitalizations involving a childhood obesity diagnosis could stem from increased recognition of the condition, rather than acceleration in obesity’s contribution to other medical conditions. Regardless, the authors write, the study “suggests that obesity has a much more immediate impact on the health of children, especially adolescents, than previously understood.” Saying that the findings reinforce the importance of obesity prevention efforts, the researchers call for additional federal support of anti-obesity programs to reduce the condition and its social and economic costs.

The entire staff at staff would like to take a moment to thank you for choosing Clarian Bariatrics to provide your care.  As a weight loss surgery patient do you know someone who has an interest in learning more about bariatric surgery and the lifestyle changes it brings? 

We would like to invite you and your interested guest to visit our booth at the Indiana State Fair on August 14 and 15 located in the Clarian Healthy Lifestyles pavilion.  If you bring a copy of this blog post, along with an interested guest to our booth between the hours of 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., you will both receive a free gift!

Our staff will be there to answer any questions and provide assistance to anyone interested in our program.  When you stop by don’t forget to try a bariatric friendly food sample made with Red Gold products! 

We would also like to share that Clarian Bariatrics is forming a walking team for First Lady Cherie Daniels' Heartland Walk for Health on August 15. If you are interested in joining our team leave your name, phone number and your t-Shirt size with Paula at 317-275-7014 before July 27, 2009.  Your information will be related to our team captain who will contact you regarding registration.

See you at the Great Indiana State Fair!