With the indulgent holiday season behind us and the lively spirit of Carnival on the horizon, now is a time when many of us set out once again on the path to weight loss, hopeful for lasting results. We commit to gym routines and cut back on King Cake, yet despite our best efforts, change can be elusive. The reason for this, according to Dr. Shauna Levy, a double board-certified surgeon in General Surgery and Obesity medicine at Tulane University, is that obesity can rarely be treated successfully through willpower alone. The universal struggle to lose weight and keep it off is a testament to the complexity of obesity management, which often requires more than just determination and temporary changes in diet or exercise. 

“Obesity is a disease in which our brain tells our body to eat and store more food than we need to exist on a day-to-day basis,” explains Levy. “So in order to treat it, we need to focus on targeting the hormones that drive this disease through medication or surgery.”

Multiple research studies have shown that diet and exercise alone can only lead to about a 4% total body weight loss. Diet and exercise may work for those looking to lose 5 – 10 pounds. Once a person’s body mass index reaches 27 or higher however, and especially if they are dealing with other weight-related medical conditions such as diabetes, acid reflux, or sleep apnea, they may need to consider weight loss medication. People with a BMI of 35+ are at heightened risk for lasting health concerns, such as high blood pressure, cancer, and liver disease, and may need to consider weight loss surgery. But just as the treatment of previously misunderstood diseases has developed and saved lives, so has the treatment of obesity through targeted and, most importantly, sustained, doctor-prescribed techniques. 

“The newest category of weight loss medications actually augments the hormone that causes excessive weight gain by driving down hunger and increasing fullness, which are actually separate things,” says Levy. “Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, targets multiple hormones to decrease hunger and increase fullness. Once we have those hormones targeted, patients can begin eating at a calorie deficit and exercising without suffering.” 

“Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death besides smoking. If society could better understand that obesity is a disease, we could be more proactive and do a better job treating it,” says Levy. “Just like any other disease, the earlier we address obesity, the better the outcome.” 

Tulane Bariatric is recognized as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), verifying that their program meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care. Tulane thinks differently about obesity and works with patients individually to tailor a plan that fits their lives and goals. Dr. Levy and the Tulane weight loss team offer both medical and surgical options to ensure every patient has a plan that leads to long-term success and a healthy life. 

To learn more about Dr. Shauna Levy and the weight loss options available at Tulane, please visit tulaneweightloss.com or call 504-988-BARI (2274). You can also connect with Tulane Bariatric on Socials at:

Tulane's New Approach to Weight Loss