Texas has one of the highest rates of obesity in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, Hispanics have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among all ethnicities. The Las Palmas Del Sol Bariatric Clinic specializes in assisting El Pasoans and those from surrounding communities in achieving their weight loss goals through gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy.
Gastric bypass is one of the country’s most frequently performed procedures for obesity. A gastric bypass restricts food intake and the amount of calories the body absorbs. A vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedure decreases the size of the stomach, limiting the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. Patients feel full sooner and with less food. Sleeve gastrectomy allows for normal digestion and absorption.
“Overcoming obesity can prove challenging for many patients. At the Las Palmas Del Sol Bariatric Clinic, our main goal is to help each individual patient achieve his or her health and weight loss goals,” Dr. Jorge Acosta, co-medical director of the Las Palmas Del Sol Bariatric Clinic, said. “Our customized programs and team of specialists provide each patient with the care they deserve.”
For local El Pasoan Celia Tahuahua, it took being a bridesmaid to realize she wanted to tackle obesity.
"I had to be in a wedding, and I tried on a bridesmaid's dress and just burst into tears and said, 'this is it.' I'm going to be in the wedding, but after this, I have to do something about my weight," she said.
Tahuahua underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2007. She’s since lost more than 100 pounds.
Not only did Tahuahua lose a significant amount of weight, she’s now able to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle, including bicycle riding as a favorite activity.
The Las Palmas Del Sol Bariatric Clinic is accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). For more information on the clinic, please visit Lose Weight El Paso.
KVIA recently interviewed Dr. Acosta and Celia Tahuahua about the Las Palmas Del Sol Bariatric Clinic.