Losing weight is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, and while weight loss can help you look better, that isn’t the full story.

Being overweight increases a person’s risk for major health problems, such as: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, heart disease and arthritis. Weight loss can improve those medical issues and decrease the long-term impact on health.

But as many know, maintaining a healthy weight is often a struggle.

To help, Lehigh Valley Health Network has weight management programs that are personalized to address an individual’s goals and challenges.

If bariatric surgery is recommended, LVHN has the most established bariatric surgery team in the region.

Five tips for weight management

Losing weight is a highly personal journey. The LVHN weight management team works with patients to identify the areas that cause difficulties in losing weight and helps provide strategies to address them. While each person is unique, here are a few tips to help kick-start a healthier 2025:

1. Aim for 25 grams of protein with each meal. Protein is digested slowly and suppresses hunger hormones, helping to keep you full. Starting your day with a high-protein meal can help curb cravings later in the day.

2. Eat slowly and chew deliberately. It takes time for the body to register it is full. Eating slowly not only allows us to enjoy our food more but gives us better cues of satiety.

3. Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can increase hunger hormones, which cause intense hunger and increase cravings for sweets and salt. Having a consistent sleep pattern will give your body time to repair, balance hormones and feel refreshed.

4. Stay hydrated. Aim for at least 64 fluid ounces per day. Drinking enough water during the day has been shown to manage hunger. Often, thirst can be mistaken for hunger, causing one to eat more. Water makes you feel fuller, causing you to eat less during a meal.

5. Get moving. Physical activity is vital for both physical and mental health. Get active for 150 minutes per week.

Considerations for bariatric surgery

Deciding to have weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, requires time to gather information, get evaluated by the surgical team, and prepare for surgery. LVHN bariatric surgeon T. Daniel Harrison, DO, and others from LVPG General and Bariatric Surgery work diligently to ensure prospective bariatric surgery patients are prepared for surgery as well as life after surgery.

Bariatric surgeries performed at LVHN use minimally invasive approaches, including robotic surgery. “The robotic approach helps decrease post-operative pain, offers shorter recovery times and reduces the risk for infection,” Dr. Harrison says.

If a person is interested in bariatric surgery, Dr. Harrison encourages people to attend a free information session to learn more. “Held virtually, these sessions provide attendees with all the information they need to make an informed decision about whether weight-loss surgery is right for them,” Dr. Harrison says.

Ready to take control of your weight? Visit LVHN.org/weightmanagement or call LVPG General and Bariatric Surgery at 610-402-9780 to get started.