Bariatrics

The Center for Weight Control at Nashoba Valley Medical Center offers both surgical and non-surgical options and support services to help patients lead healthier lives and achieve weight loss goals.

Bariatrics

200 Groton Road
Ayer, MA 01432
978-784-9313

Eating Healthy

Weight Loss Services at Nashoba Valley

Our surgeons and dietitians work closely with our patients, providing education on weight loss methods and helping each individual decide which options are best. Compassionate, personalized care includes regular monitoring to ensure that weight is lost in a healthy and sustainable way.

Weight Loss Surgery

We understand that being overweight is a medical condition that poses serious health risks, such as heart disease and diabetes, and also impacts your ability to live an active and healthy lifestyle. For people who have struggled with their weight and have been unable to maintain long-term weight loss, bariatric surgery may be the most effective means to lose weight and keep it off. 

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), you may qualify for weight loss (bariatric) surgery based on the following criteria:
  1. You are 18 years or older.
  2. You have a body mass index (BMI of 35 or greater) and have related medical problems, or a BMI of 40 or greater.
  3. You have medical problems that are related to your being overweight that can be improved after bariatric surgery.
  4. You do not have medical problems that would make your risk of undergoing anesthesia or surgery too high.
  5. You have failed physician-supervised diets.
  6. You demonstrate the ability to lose weight during the preoperative evaluation process.
  7. You do not have psychiatric or substance abuse problems that would make it unlikely that you would be successful with weight loss after surgery.
  8. You have sufficient willpower and commitment to make the permanent lifestyle changes that are required and are permanent after the surgery.
  9. You educate yourself about your disease, the surgery, the post-surgical diet, post-surgical life changes and have reasonable expectations.
Surgical weight loss procedures include:
  • Gastric bypass – a laparoscopic procedure in which the upper portion of the stomach is surgically stapled to separate it from the rest of the stomach, changing the path food takes so it bypasses much of the stomach and part of the small intestine.
     
  • Sleeve gastrectomy (also known as gastric sleeve) – is a non-reversible procedure where approximately 85 percent of the stomach is removed, the remaining taking on a tube shape. This laparoscopic surgery only calls for a few small incisions, leading to a safer and quicker recovery for patients.

 

Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options

If your body mass index (BMI) is less than 40 you may benefit from non-surgical weight loss. Use this BMI calculator to see if our medical weight loss program is right for you.

The Center for Weight Control offers non-surgical weight loss options including nutrition counseling with the dietitian to evaluate a patient's diet and lifestyle. Patients learn about food and activity goal setting as a key component of a healthier lifestyle.

Make an appointment

19158434806
bariatrics

Events

Resources

Center for Weight Control Weight Loss Surgery Brochure
At the Center for Weight Control, our surgeons, dietitians, and behavioral therapists work closely with our patients, providing education on weight loss methods and helping each individual decide which options are best.
Dr. Michael Jiser
Listen to Dr. Jiser's Interview on WPKZ AM 1280
Listen to Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Michael Jiser talk with WPKZ AM 1280 K-Zone hosts Travis and Sherman about obesity, weight loss and weight loss surgery.
Weight Loss Consult
Understanding Weight Loss Surgery
A conversation with Michael Jiser, MD, Steward Health Care Bariatric Surgeon.
Veggie Heart
How to Add Variety to Your Veggies
Are you like most Americans and don’t eat enough vegetables on a daily basis? If so, your diet may also be lacking valuable veggie variety that can lower your risk for many chronic diseases.
Greens
Don’t Let Fad Diets Deter Long-Term Weight Loss Goals
Diets like the Ketogenic diet, Whole 30, Paleo ­­, and intermittent fasting all promise dramatic weight loss in a quick period, and frequently, if followed, these diets will provide the guaranteed results. However, these are a short term solution to dropping a lot of weight quickly. The problem arises when the weight loss can’t be sustained because the diets are often very restrictive.