Weight management expertise from the specialists that you trust to further curb and manage GI disease

At Triborough GI, we support the overall health of individuals across New York City by supporting their “gut” health. In fact, many of the conditions that our seven board-certified gastroenterologists treat from their offices in Brooklyn, Bushwick, Staten Island, and the Bronx can either be helped or hampered by one’s lifestyle, notably, what individuals eat, drink, and do – including their level of physical activity. In fact, our highly skilled team includes subspecialists in all the important areas of obesity medicine.

The power and importance of weight management expertise

Obesity is a risk factor for certain cancers that we treat, such as colorectal and gastric/stomach cancers. Excess weight is also associated with a  myriad of other GI conditions and can challenge one’s ability to manage everything from GERD (reflux) to NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). 

Defining obesity 

National guidelines define obesity based on one’s body weight compared to height (or Body Mass Index); however, other factors must be accounted for (including muscle mass). A “healthy” BMI generally ranges from 18.5 to 24.9, with overweight and obese BMIs ranging from 25 to 29.9 and 30-plus, respectively. 

Managing obesity

The options to manage one’s weight are as diverse and varied as the patients we treat. These options for sustained weight loss are primarily classified as:

• Lifestyle changes – It is always advised to strive for a healthy, well-balanced diet utilizing a classic food pyramid with the five food groups. We may also suggest identifying and reducing “sneaky” added sugars in products like cereals, juices and condiments. Stick to tried and trusted approaches, not fad diets. These include the Mediterranean diet which is abundant in fruits, veg, whole foods, whole grains, and healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and olive oil. Additionally, the CDC recommends 150-plus minutes of “moderate intensity” exercise weekly (think: walking, water aerobics, biking).
• Medications – While prescribed drugs are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, they can help to manage an unhealthy weight among those who have not been able to achieve their goals with changes to activity and diet alone. Most of the drugs that we prescribe work by affecting your appetite. So, you’ll no longer desire to eat as much. Before making any recommendations on this front, we’ll account for many factors, from your medical history to your existing use of prescription and non-prescription drugs and supplements. Some of the most common prescription weight loss drugs include Ozempic® (Semaglutide), Contrave® (Bupropion-naltrexone), Saxenda® (Liraglutide), and Xenical® (Orlistat).
• Endoscopic procedures – Specialists like our team are also equipped to safely and predictably perform treatments with an endoscope, a thin and flexible tube to insert a balloon into the stomach. This process helps patients feel full faster and can be just the jumpstart that is necessary to kick off a weight loss program. There are several techniques and approaches that fall under this category, and all are generally considered to be a conservative alternative to surgery.
• Surgical treatments – These procedures are more substantive, requiring consulting with a surgeon.  Some procedures involve sealing off portions of the stomach, whereas others alter how food is absorbed by the body to help you shed the pounds. While our team does not perform these procedures, we would work with the surgical team to improve your outcome. There is always a need for lifestyle changes and monitoring before and after surgery, as it may be necessary to “prehabilitate” before the procedure. Additionally, an endoscopy is frequently required prior to surgery. These efforts help to minimize the risks of severe complications during surgery. 

The weight management plan is as unique as you are! Call (718) 332-0600 to reach the Triborough GI team in Brooklyn. Or, you may also schedule an appointment at one of our three other metro NY locations –call (718) 987-1700 for Staten Island, (718) 292-3822 for the Bronx, and (718) 821-0643 for Bushwick.