The NYU Lutheran Surgical Weight Loss Institute recently hosted its fifth annual open house, welcoming a lively crowd of Brooklyn residents seeking support from weight loss specialists.
More than 70 attendees met with a team of NYU Lutheran bariatric experts in general medicine, cardiology, gastroenterology, psychology, physical therapy and nutrition.
Three of the institute’s leading weight loss surgeons Corneliu Vulpe, MD; Rabih Nemr, MD; and Sharique Nazir, MD gave a one-hour presentation.
The presentation covered statistics on obesity, causes and treatment, indications and types of weight loss surgeries, and program benefits, followed by a question and answer session.
“Obesity is dreadful and there’s no point in suffering through it,” Dr. Nazir said. “There isn’t one factor to blame for being overweight, there are multiple factors involved.
“NYU Lutheran has a collaborative team of specialists who are willing to work with you every step of the way so that in the end you see results,” he added.
Five patients shared stories about how the NYU Lutheran Surgical Weight Loss Institute helped change their lives for the better, NYU Lutheran.
Donald Stankalis, a former patient and frequent visitor of the institute, showcased his size 64 pants and shared his remarkable weight loss journey, thanks to the NYU Lutheran team.
“Before the program, I weighed 440 pounds, now with the help of NYU Lutheran, I am at a healthy 230 pounds. They helped me get through that stage in my life mentally and physically,” he said. “Last year, I completed 20 full and half marathons and walkathons, and plan to enter in this year’s NYC marathon in November.”
Stankalis is an active member of NYU Lutheran’s surgical weight loss support group, which meets every month, and has been since his weight loss surgery in 2013.
