A Boost of Confidence

Bariatric Surgery Helps Couple Thrive

Autumn and Nick Avalos have each lost nearly 100 pounds since having bariatric surgery.

GLP-1 medications have become a popular weight-loss method in recent years. They can be effective for someone’s weight-loss goals when paired with diet and exercise. But sometimes, the method isn’t enough to maintain a healthy weight. One Chico couple can attest to that. They turned to Enloe Health Bariatric & Metabolic Services. The result? Their lives have forever changed — for the better.

“Bariatric surgery has given me my health back. I have more energy to chase my kids around and pursue my goals. I’m thankful for the opportunity to model healthy habits for my family,” said Autumn Avalos, a patient who lost 95 pounds since having surgery in 2022.

Bariatric Surgery Explained

Bariatric surgery is a treatment for obesity that involves major changes to a person’s digestive system. There are multiple types of bariatric surgery, but the most popular is sleeve gastrectomy, which removes about 85% of the stomach, said Erik Simchuk, M.D., Medical Director of Bariatrics at Enloe Health.

“In its native form, the stomach can hold about 2½ liters of food in a single sitting. With a sleeve gastrectomy, we’re converting it to about the size of your middle finger. It’s a drastic reduction in the amount of food someone can eat in one sitting,” Dr. Simchuk said. “Our patients tell us that they feel full on just one half to three-quarters of a cup of food.”

Bariatric surgery also reduces production of a hormone called ghrelin, which stimulates a person’s appetite. Similarly, GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy help people lose weight by increasing insulin production and leveling a person’s blood sugar. This helps suppress appetite and makes people feel fuller longer.

Autumn and Nick Avalos saw their lives change after they had bariatric surgery in 2022 and 2023, respectively. They have each lost nearly 100 pounds. Their weight-loss journeys began with GLP-1s. After having quadruplets in 2021, the couple wanted to prioritize their health and lead an active lifestyle with their kids. GLP-1 medication helped them lose weight at first, but did not help them make the necessary lifestyle changes for long-term results.

“I thought the weight-loss medication was a good tool, but it wasn’t changing my practices when it came to food and nutrition,” Autumn Avalos said. “I wondered if I would gain the weight back when I stopped taking medication. That’s when I started looking more seriously into surgery.”

Dr. Simchuk describes GLP-1s as a complementary therapy to bariatric surgery. These medications can help people lose roughly 25 pounds. But bariatric surgery is still the most effective treatment for those with a body mass index of 35 or higher, he said.

“The co-morbidities related to obesity really begin to stack up at a body mass of 30. If a person has a BMI of 34-35, our goal is to get them to a BMI of 27 and below. A GLP-1 agonist is not going to do that,” he said. “They can be effective for people with a BMI of 28-32, but patients still risk gaining back the weight. Bariatric surgery offers more sustainable results.”

Since having weight loss surgery, the couple have led an active lifestyle with renewed confidence. They now have more energy to take their five young children on family outings to parks and neighboring cities. Losing weight, Nick Avalos said, has helped the couple reconnect with their love of traveling as a family. Their jobs as medical professionals also keep them moving consistently throughout the day.

“I watched Autumn gain a lot of confidence, self-esteem and energy. It was a good motivating factor for me to see her enjoy life,” he said. That encouraged him to take the leap, too, and seek out surgery. “Bariatric surgery was the reset I needed to jumpstart a whole new life. It allowed me to have more freedom and has made a positive impact on my confidence,” Nick Avalos said.

“Before surgery, I would try to lose weight, get in a rut and lose confidence. This surgery made me realize that I can do hard things. It’s improved my confidence, my energy, and my health, which has made me a better wife and mother,” Autumn Avalos said.

According to Dr. Simchuk, practicing self-care and implementing lifestyle changes are common hurdles for people who have bariatric surgery. But mindfulness, a healthy diet and exercise are crucial in maintaining results after surgery.

“Practicing self-care, understanding food as medicine and implementing exercise are all critical to a patient’s ongoing wellness,” Dr. Simchuk said. “I’m really proud of our patients and the hard work they put in. I’m also honored to help them in their journey to improved health.”

To learn more about Enloe Health Bariatric & Metabolic Services, visit www.enloe.org/weight.