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Fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon Dr. Brent Bell was a medical officer in the U.S. Army. Dr. Rene Jaso was a surgeon in the U.S. Navy who offered support during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. For seven years, Certified Physician Assistant James Houston served in the Navy, as well, treating patients and performing minor surgeries. Director of Patient Relations Tonya Kramer and Nutritionist and Support Group Director Ann Sager both grew up in military families.

Ironically, all of these individuals have now joined the team of Dr. Nilesh Patel, renowned surgeon and founder of Texas Bariatric Specialists (TBS).

“It wasn’t by design” that a large portion of the staff has a military background, Patel says. “But it speaks to the type of character that is going to be able to relate to what we are trying to do.”

One of the most passionate and vocal advocates for those suffering from obesity, Patel is waging war against this serious epidemic one patient at a time. Fellowship-trained and nationally recognized, the doctor specializes in minimally invasive weight-loss procedures, including gastric bypass, gastric band, gastric sleeve and revision surgeries.

He has performed nearly 2,000 weight-loss procedures in just the past five years and boasts success rates that surpass the national average. In even less time, he has expanded his TBS practice to six cities across South Texas. Referred to as a hub-and-spoke model of care, Patel’s practice establishes bariatric offices in major cities which, in turn, provide direct care to surrounding communities that are typically underserved, but equally, if not worse-off, in regards to obesity rates.

“I am regularly told we are mimicking ‘The Art of War’ with this kind of approach: war-like tactics of surrounding the enemy and then attacking to the center from the perimeter,” Patel says.

Having broken the code for successful weight-loss management, TBS offers not only surgical procedures, but also medical weight-loss programs, nutritional guidance, personal trainers, supplements, support groups, psychiatrists, sleep disorder services and extensive post-operative care.

Up until now, most bariatric surgical care units were developed around one office in one location with the belief of “If we build it, they will come.”

“That’s not true,” says Patel, adding that patients who live three hours from their bariatric surgeon will cancel appointments or fail to maintain the post-surgery care and support that are essential to maintaining a healthy weight. It’s often tough taking a day off from work. “It’s so much easier just to come in on your lunch break.”

Modeled after Patel’s San Antonio clinic, the South Austin office – which just added Saturday and evening hours – serves not only those within the city limits, but also such surrounding communities as Round Rock, Georgetown, San Marcos and Waco. And like the San Antonio location, Patel envisions the impressive volume at the Austin office will result in an alliance with a local hospital.

“Even if we don’t get the right partners, we will continue to practice our mission in Austin and work to promote change in the treatment of morbid obesity,” he says.

If nothing else, Patel hopes his success in the Capitol City will convince Texas leaders to increase their fight against this epidemic. Government pressure is greatly needed to insure non-surgical weight-loss solutions, encourage employers to include weight-loss procedures in their health plans and convince President Obama to address bariatric care in national health care policies.

“Ninety percent of the procedures we do are covered by insurance, but 50 percent of people do not have policies that include weight-loss surgeries,” Patel says. “Why are we not providing health care or at least funding preventative programs that work particularly when weight-loss measures have proven to be financially beneficial for the insured employer?”

In fact, the annual economic impact of obesity in Texas alone is expected to top $15.6 billion this year alone. If obesity rates continue on their current path, that number is expected to skyrocket to $39 billion by 2040. By that same year, at least 75 percent of all Texans are projected to be overweight or obese.

Economic losses accumulate not from the extra weight our society is carrying around, but from all the medical conditions triggered by obesity, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, sleep disorders, gallbladder disease and osteoarthritis. Yet, this country must have a healthy workforce to maintain optimal productivity.

“If obesity causes the nation to pay for day losses as far as productivity, then I think there will be change,” Jaso says.

Still, Jaso, Patel and even Bell believe the country will be battling obesity for years and even generations to come. “Do I think the prevalence of morbid obesity will change in the near future? Sadly, no,” Patel says. “The perception of morbid obesity in the United States is a tragedy and the only form of prejudice that remains unchecked in our society. We collectively need to change that perception before we can really conquer this disease entity that has taken the country at epidemic proportions.”

More than half of Patel’s morbidly obese patients at one point suffered from metabolic disorders, and for them, conventional weight-loss methods just won’t work. Obese patients drop an average of 10 to 15 percent of their body mass through conventional weight-loss measures. With minimally invasive weight-loss procedures, that number jumps to as high as 85 percent.

“Do you think every overweight person is just wishing for things to happen?” Patel says. “They are out there fighting this. They are trying every diet. But they haven’t a chance, particularly if they don’t have a doctor helping them. And that’s why we are so enthusiastic to start making a difference in Austin. Maybe the legislature will see the difference a true, multi-disciplined weight-loss program can make.”

Born and raised in New Jersey, Patel was first drawn to medicine because he was certain he could build a longitudinal relationship with patients. He first tried family practice, then general and colorectal surgery, but none of those avenues matched his aggressive personality and overwhelming desire to affect immediate change with tangible results.

“I wanted to be able to help people, but I wanted to be able to watch the aid or care that I’m providing make an affect on a person,” he says.

At the urging of his mentor, Dr. Joseph Colella, Patel agreed to a one-year fellowship at a Pittsburgh-based bariatric clinic and immediately found his calling. “Weight-loss surgery is the perfect combination for me because it allows me to have a relationship with patients on the moral basis of which I was raised,” he says. “It allows me to provide that longitudinal care so I can see their progress and vicariously enjoy their success as they meet certain life goals – and at the same time, do some really wild surgery.”

This was clearly the right career path, as Patel has already accumulated countless accolades and was most recently named one of the best bariatric surgeons in Texas by Newsweek magazine’s showcase. Never one to slow down, Patel is taking his fight against obesity outside of the OR, as well.

Working to better society’s perceptions of obesity, Patel and his business partner Ron Duperroir have now formed Clarity Bariatrics, a for-profit bariatric surgery management company, and Clarity Health Alliance, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving access to care, research and outcomes related to obesity and obesity-related conditions.

Through the latter effort, Patel plans to initiate two new weight-loss campaigns targeting specific demographics, sponsor the first Walk for Obesity in Corpus Christi in November and by 2011, kick off an ambitious effort in Austin aimed at curbing childhood obesity.

“I can appreciate his enthusiasm and am probably one of his biggest fans,” Jaso says. “He impresses me. Technically, he’s an excellent surgeon with an excellent vision.”

For more information about Texas Bariatric Specialists, visit www.bypassdoc.com.