Healthy You

The Healthy You Weight Loss Solutions program at Waverly Health Center offers a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to weight loss. Our expert team provides individualized plans tailored to your unique health needs and goals. With a combination of medical, surgical and lifestyle support, we help you create a plan that right for you.

Whether you’re considering bariatric surgery, exploring medication options or building healthier habits through nutrition and exercise, our team is here to guide and support you every step of the way.

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Contact Us

Phone: (319) 352-8033
Fax: (866) 939-1549
Manager: Kristin Hicok, BSN, RN

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Clinic Hours

Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please park in the green parking lot and enter through the green entrance.

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This form is for general inquiries and information only. Please do not send any personal health information via this form. If you are experiencing an emergency, please contact your primary care physician or dial 911.

Customized Care That Fits You

  • Bariatric Surgery
    For those who qualify, surgical options like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy can be life-changing tools for long-term weight loss and improved health

  • Medical Management
    Prescription medications and provider-led plans to support gradual, sustainable weight loss.

  • Lifestyle & Nutrition Support
    One-on-one guidance from experts to help you build healthy habits that last

Is This Program Right for You?

If you’ve struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone or if weight is affecting your health and daily life, you may be a candidate for our program.

You might benefit from Healthy You if you:

  • Have a BMI over 30
  • Live with diabetes, high blood pressure or joint pain
  • Want long-term solutions with medical or surgical support
  • Are ready to make lasting lifestyle changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Will insurance cover my surgery?

Most types of insurance cover weight loss surgery, but some plans have exclusions. Contact your insurance company for details.

Does insurance cover my supervised diet visits?

Most types of insurance cover supervised diets visits under the direction of a doctor, but some plans have exclusions. Contact your insurance company for details.

How soon will I start losing weight?

You will start losing weight right after surgery. But, don’t be surprised if you weigh a few pounds more when you go home than you did when you entered the hospital. This can be a result of all the fluids you were given in the hospital, and the weight will be lost quickly.

How long does the surgery take?

Sleeve or bypass surgery usually takes two to four hours, though this can vary.

How long will I be in the hospital?

If you have sleeve or gastric bypass surgery, expect to be in the hospital for one to five nights.

How long does it take to heal from surgery?

If you have sleeve or gastric bypass surgery, you should be able to return to work two to four weeks after surgery, depending on the physical demands of your job. There is a six week lifting restriction after surgery.

Can I get pregnant and have children after the surgery?

Yes, if you don’t have other fertility problems. Women should wait at least 18 months after the surgery or until their weight is stable to get pregnant.

How will I be able to control what I eat after surgery?

After surgery, eating high-fat, high-sugar foods or eating too much may cause reactions such as vomiting or loose stools. These reactions make it much easier to avoid junk food. Many people say their tastes change after surgery, and they no longer want unhealthy foods. You may notice that foods you used to love won’t appeal to you anymore. Also, you may develop tastes for new and different foods. After surgery, you no longer will be able to depend on food for comfort. For some people, it can be hard to fill the void that used to be filled by food.

How will weight loss surgery affect my family?

Better health can improve your quality of life. It can help you become a better partner, sister, brother, mother or father. In addition to having a longer life, you can be more involved in the lives that mean the most to you. Being healthy and active lets you take part in more family activities and keep up with loved ones.

When I lose weight, what will happen to the extra skin?

This is different for everyone. For some people, the skin will tone up and look fine. In other cases, the skin has stretched too much to return to normal. You may be left with sagging skin around your middle or other parts of your body. Some people choose to live with the excess skin, others have it removed. The procedures most often are considered cosmetic and may not be covered by insurance. If too much skin is causing medical problems (such as rashes or sores), your insurance plan may cover the surgery.

What to Expect 

Taking charge of your health requires a personal commitment. We are here to support your weight loss goals. Our experienced team is dedicated to improving your well-being through personalized care, education and support. We offer a complete program designed to help you through every step of your weight loss journey.

Getting Started

The first step for the Healthy You Program is to fill our Patient Health Questionnaire and return it to our office. Our team will review your information to determine if you are eligible for the program. A nurse will call you with questions and if it appears you may qualify, she will set up a consult with the team.

Your consult will take about two hours. During the visit, you will meet with the nurse pracitioner to go over your medical history. She will also talk with you about surgical weight loss choices so you can make an informed decision. In addition to the nurse practitioner, you will meet with the nurse and insurance expert. If you decide to start the program, you will get information on the next steps you need to take.

Your insurance requirements for weight loss surgery will vary based on your specific insurance plan. Below are the most common insurance plan requirements.

  • Clinical diagnosis of your medical conditions
  • Documentation of professionally/medically supervised diet plans in the past three to six months
  • Referral letter from primary physician may be needed
  • Copies of your medical records
  • A psychological evaluation
  • Dietary evaluation

Are you worried about whether your insurance will cover your weight loss surgery? We have a health insurance expert to help guide you through the process. To learn more click the button below.

Surgery Options

We want the best for our patients, so we offer minimally invasive surgery options. This means smaller incisions, which allows you to heal faster with less pain and scarring. Laparoscopic surgery is done through five or six very small cuts, using small tubes, video cameras and surgical tools. These small cuts mean less pain, less external scarring and healing that will occur faster than traditional open surgery.

Surgery Office

Gastric sleeve surgery

The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a surgery in which the surgeon removes about 85 percent of the stomach, shaping the remaining stomach into a tube or “sleeve.” This limits the amount of food that can be ingested at any given time without altering the normal absorption of vitamins and minerals. It also greatly decreases hunger by removing the part of the stomach that makes the main hunger stimulating hormone.

This surgery is best for extremely obese people (BMI greater than 50). It is also recommended for people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), pancreas and liver problems, or an organ transplant.

Pros

  • Excellent weight loss.
  • No changes to intestines.
  • No objects placed in body.
  • Short hospital stay.
  • Safe and effective.

Cons

  • Cannot be reversed.
  • Chance of vitamin shortage.
  • Chance of acid reflux.

​Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Gastric bypass surgery (Roux-en-Y)

During this method, the stomach is stapled to make a smaller pouch. Then, most of the stomach and intestines are bypassed as the small stomach pouch is attached to part of the small intestine. This aids weight loss by limiting the amount of food you can eat and reducing the amount of fat and calories you absorb.

Pros

  • Excellent weight loss.
  • No objects placed in body.
  • Short hospital stay.
  • Safe and effective.

Cons

  • Difficult to reverse.
  • Higher chance of vitamin shortage than gastric band or gastric sleeve.
  • Higher chance of long-term surgery-related problems.
  • May increase risk of alcohol use disorder.
  • Potential for dumping syndrome.

​Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

After Surgery

You will meet with the provider one week after surgery to make sure you are healing well. At six months, you will meet with the nurse practitioner. Before this visit, lab tests will be ordered so your nutrition status can be reviewed to decide if you need more vitamins or supplements. At one-year post-surgery and each year after, you will have lab tests and meet with the nurse practitioner to make sure you are reaching and maintaining your weight loss goals.

Our dietitian will be working closely with you after surgery to help you with your food plans. You will meet with her one day after surgery and again at two weeks, six weeks, three months and nine months. In addition to the scheduled visits, you are welcome to call our dietitian as needed. She will gladly answer questions.

Weight loss surgery is the start of your journey to change your body and your life. But surgery alone will not allow you to meet your health and wellness goals. After surgery, you need to take important steps to reach and keep a healthy weight.

  • Make a commitment to change your lifestyle. This includes a healthy diet, exercise and behavior changes.
  • Keep your appointments with the Healthy You team.
  • Attend support group meetings.
  • Exercise for 30 to 45 minutes 5 to 6 times a week for life. Start out slowly after your surgery.
  • Take the recommend supplements or vitamins every day for life.
  • Get mental health counseling if your doctor recommends it.
  • Focus on your strengths and emphasize them. What do you do well? What do you enjoy?