Why Weight?
July 14, 2021
Weight-loss surgery is one of the most common elective surgeries 
in the U.S., with more than 252,000 weight-loss surgeries performed in 2018 according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that almost 42.7 percent of U.S. adults and 18.5 percent of young people are obese and impacted by obesity-related health complications.
Texoma Medical Center offers multiple weight-loss surgery options as well as monthly education seminars and support group meetings to address this national issue. In recognition of the hospital’s commitment to safe and effective weight-loss surgery, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas recently named Texoma Medical Center a Blue Distinction Center+.
This designation is made possible by the highly skilled bariatric surgeons working at the hospital. Cody Starnes, MD, FACS, the newest bariatric surgeon to join this group, says he chose Texoma Medical Center because it stood out as a regional leader in weight-loss surgery. “TMC has all the resources of a top-notch facility” he explains. “We are the only Center of Excellence in a 30-mile radius, and we are equipped to handle not just any weight-loss procedure, but also any complication that may come of it.”
Who Is a Candidate for Weight-Loss Surgery?
Dr. Starnes explains that an appropriate candidate for weight-loss surgery has a body-mass index (BMI) between 35 and 40 with one or two medical problems, or a BMI greater than 40, regardless of medical problems. “The vast majority of insurance providers won’t cover a person for weight-loss surgery if they fall outside of those categories.”
He also states that one of the main reasons people don’t pursue weight-loss surgery is they do not realize it is an option. “The biggest challenge is getting patients in the door. Only 1 percent of potential surgical weight-loss patients actually receives surgery,” he says. “It’s an untapped resource that a big part of the population doesn’t even know about, and they should.”
Meet the Bariatric Surgeons
The weight-loss program at Texoma Medical Center is made possible by a highly skilled group of bariatric surgeons. They are trained in performing various weight-loss procedures, including sleeve gastrectomy and minimally invasive robotic surgery.
Matthew Burruss, MD, FACS
Aaron Cernero, DO
Cody Starnes, MD, FACS
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if bariatric or robotic surgery is right for you.