Comprehensive Weight Management
- For all other requests:
- 1-800-777-8442
Obesity is a chronic disease that can affect your overall health and make it harder to manage conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and joint pain. Some people struggle with weight throughout their lives, while others may need to lose weight before procedures like organ transplantation, joint replacement, or complex hernia repair.
With University of Iowa Health Care’s Comprehensive Weight Management program, you’ll receive personalized, long‑term care from a multidisciplinary team focused on your health and goals. We offer the full range of evidence‑based treatments — from medical management and weight‑loss medications to advanced metabolic and bariatric surgery. Our goal is to help you build sustainable habits, achieve meaningful and lasting weight loss, improve metabolic health, and enhance your overall quality of life.
Our approach to comprehensive weight management
Our team-based approach is personalized, comprehensive, and designed to support you for the long term. Your care begins with a structured evaluation and education process so we can understand your health needs, goals, and lifestyle, and identify the treatment options that are right for you.
Based on that evaluation, we work with you to create a coordinated care plan tailored to your needs. Depending on your goals, this may include medical therapy, weight-loss medications, or advanced minimally invasive surgery using laparoscopic or robotic-assisted techniques. For some patients, this also includes complex revisional procedures.
As leaders in minimally invasive gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery, our surgeons work closely with specialists across UI Health Care to provide safe, effective care and support faster recovery. You’ll also have ongoing support from registered dietitians, nutrition specialists, and behavioral health professionals before and after treatment, with long-term follow-up built into your care. If you need to lose weight before another procedure, we partner with transplant, orthopedic, and other surgical teams to help you prepare and achieve the best possible outcome.
Comprehensive weight management treatment options
From medical management to advanced and highly complex surgery, our program offers a full spectrum of coordinated treatment options. Your care plan is tailored to your medical history, health goals, and individual needs.
Medical weight management
Medical weight management focuses on non‑surgical approaches to weight loss and metabolic health. You’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary team to develop a personalized plan that may include:
- Prescription weight‑loss medications, including GLP‑1–based therapies
- Nutritional counseling with registered dietitians
- Behavioral and lifestyle support
- Structured programs focused on long‑term, sustainable change
- Weight optimization care prior to surgery
These approaches can be effective on their own or used alongside other treatments.
Endobariatric therapies
For selected patients, minimally invasive endoscopic procedures may be an option. These therapies are performed without traditional surgery and help bridge the gap between medical therapy and bariatric surgery. Options may include:
- Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG)
- Endoscopic revision of gastric bypass
- Transoral outlet reduction (TORe)
- Endoscopic management of weight regain
Bariatric and metabolic surgery
We offer advanced minimally invasive and robotic bariatric procedures that support durable weight loss and metabolic improvement, including:
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Single‑anastomosis duodenoileal bypass (SADI‑S)
Our team provides lifelong follow‑up and nutritional support to help you maintain results and protect your long‑term health.
Complex revisional bariatric surgery
UI Health Care is a regional referral center for complex reoperative bariatric and metabolic surgery. Our surgeons have specialized expertise in revision and correction of prior weight‑loss procedures, including care for patients with complications or weight regain. Procedures may include:
- Conversion of sleeve gastrectomy to gastric bypass, duodenal switch, or SADI‑S
- Revision of gastric bypass for weight regain
- Conversion of older procedures, such as gastric banding, to modern techniques
- Treatment of complications, including severe reflux or anatomic issues
- Bariatric reversal procedures for select patients
These highly specialized procedures are supported by comprehensive, long‑term follow‑up and multidisciplinary care.
What you can expect
We provide coordinated, personalized support throughout your weight management journey.
- A comprehensive evaluation. We review your medical history, health conditions, and goals, and discuss all appropriate treatment options so you can make informed decisions.
- A personalized treatment plan. Your care plan is tailored to your needs, preferences, and health status and may include medical, endoscopic, or surgical options.
- Team‑based, coordinated care. You’ll be supported by a multidisciplinary team that may include physicians, surgeons, dietitians, and behavioral health specialists.
- Education and preparation. You’ll receive clear guidance on nutrition, lifestyle changes, and behavioral support. If surgery is recommended, you’ll also receive thorough pre‑procedure education.
- Advanced minimally invasive care. We use laparoscopic and robotic techniques when appropriate to support safer procedures, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery.
- Long‑term follow‑up and support. Weight management is a lifelong journey. We provide ongoing follow‑up to help maintain weight loss, monitor your health, and adjust your plan over time.
Our goal is to support you at every stage — helping you achieve durable weight loss, improve your health, and feel confident moving forward.
Who can benefit from weight management services?
Our Comprehensive Weight Management program serves adults at many stages of their weight‑loss journey. You may benefit if weight is affecting your health, quality of life, or ability to move forward with other medical care.
- Are living with obesity or are overweight and want medical support for weight loss
- Have obesity‑related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint pain, or heart disease
- Have tried diet and exercise programs without long‑term success
- Are interested in prescription weight‑loss medications or non‑surgical options
- Are considering bariatric or metabolic surgery
- Have had prior weight‑loss surgery and are experiencing weight regain or complications
- Need to lose weight to safely proceed with organ transplantation, joint replacement, or complex hernia or abdominal surgery
- Want a comprehensive, long‑term approach that includes medical, nutritional, and behavioral support
Whether you’re just beginning to explore your options or need highly specialized care, our multidisciplinary team will work with you to create an individualized plan focused on improving your health and supporting lasting results.
Our Care Team
UI Health Care weight management specialists are leaders in advanced, minimally invasive bariatric and metabolic surgery.
Not sure whether weight management is right for you?
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Support Groups
The Bariatric Surgery Support Group is a great way to share your experience and connect with others who have already started the journey.
Registration is not required; it is free and open to anyone interested in sharing their experience and/or considering bariatric surgery.
Bariatric Surgery Zoom Support Group meets from 6 to 7 pm:
Monday, July 13, 2026 from 6-7pm, Deb Allan, MSN, RN, Bariatric Surgery program coordinator, will discuss helpful tips for meal prepping and planning after bariatric surgery. Please join us!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/92210335415?pwd=DGg7ylGmhGF9WNuXaxUajbzjoKM9rk.1&from=addon
Meeting ID: 922 1033 5415
Passcode: 344524
More dates:
September 14, 2026
November 9, 2026