Videos

In honor of Obesity Week (March 2-6), we’re excited to share a new conversation featuring Dr. Sarah Samreen, Director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at UTMB, and Dr. Andrea Stark, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine.  After receiving fantastic feedback from their last episode, they’re back — this time tackling some of the most common questions about obesity treatments, a topic that is often misunderstood.

Whether you’re curious about medical weight‑loss options, exploring bariatric surgery, or just trying to understand the rapidly evolving landscape of obesity care, this episode is packed with clear explanations, myth‑busting, and practical guidance from two leaders in the field. Dr. Samreen and Dr. Stark break down topics patients ask every day, including:

Realistic weight loss expectations

• What to expect with lifestyle changes alone
• How first‑generation medications differ from newer GLP‑1 therapies
• Why “average weight loss” isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all
• The role of medication titration and timelines

Bariatric surgery vs. medication — what’s the difference?

Dr. Samreen walks through:

• Expected weight‑loss ranges for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and ESG
• Why bariatric surgery still leads in long‑term durability
• How combination therapy (medications + surgery) can be a game changer for some patients

Costs, coverage, and the future of access

The doctors discuss:

• Why some patients may need lifelong medication, and what that means financially
• How upcoming Medicare changes could expand access
• Why out-of-pocket costs drive patients toward risky alternatives

Red flags and safety risks

They dive into concerning trends they're seeing:

• Compounded GLP‑1 medications with unknown ingredients
• Extreme undereating and muscle loss on poorly supervised telehealth plans
• The dangers of traveling abroad for bariatric surgery
• How lack of pre‑op education impacts long‑term success

Clearing up misconceptions

Dr. Samreen addresses a common fear — whether surgeons require preoperative weight loss to “earn” surgery — and explains why the UTMB approach is grounded in compassion and evidence, not punishment or shame.

Why this matters

Obesity is a chronic, complex disease — not a personal failure. Conversations like this help reduce stigma, expand understanding, and empower patients with the facts they need to make informed choices. Whether you’re seeking care or supporting someone you love, this episode brings clarity to a topic too often clouded by misinformation.

For an appointment call 800-917-8906 or schedule online.

Obesity care has changed dramatically in just a few years. New medications, minimally invasive procedures, improved surgical techniques, and a deeper understanding of the biology of obesity have transformed treatment—and patient expectations. Yet with so much noise in the media, many patients still feel confused, hesitant, or unsure where to start.

In our newest video, UTMB Health bariatric surgeon Dr. Sarah Samreen and obesity medicine specialist Dr. Andrea Stark sit down for an open, candid conversation about what's new, what's misunderstood, and what patients need to know right now. Below is a recap of some of the most important insights they shared.

Obesity is a chronic disease—not a personal failure

Both physicians emphasize something the medical community now knows clearly: Obesity is driven by complex hormonal, genetic, and metabolic factors—not simply “calories in, calories out.”

Stark notes that key hormones such as leptin were only discovered in the 1990s—meaning our understanding of obesity is still evolving. But it's evolving fast.

This shift is critical because it helps reduce stigma.

“We don’t shame patients for seeking care for diabetes or heart disease—yet we still shame people seeking treatment for obesity,” Samreen says.

Modern bariatric surgery is safe, standardized, and highly effective

Many prospective patients are surprised to learn how far bariatric surgery has come. Samreen explains that UTMB Health is a nationally accredited Center of Excellence, meeting the highest standards set by the American College of Surgeons.

Key points she highlights:

• Less than 1% major complication rate
• One-night hospital stays
• Robotic and minimally invasive procedures
• Outcomes comparable to common surgeries like gallbladder removal

Outdated perceptions like open surgeries, longer recovery times, and higher risks simply don’t reflect today’s reality, she stresses.

When to consider surgery vs. medication

Stark considers each patient’s BMI, health conditions, personal goals, and expected weight‑loss outcomes. If medications or lifestyle changes alone can’t safely get a patient to his or her health goals, she refers them to Samreen.

Patients with type 2 diabetes especially benefit from surgery, which is often the most effective long‑term treatment for diabetes remission, Stark says.

Both physicians emphasize that the right treatment varies—and the beauty of UTMB’s program is that patients don’t have to choose blindly.

A whole-team approach: The power of multidisciplinary care

One of the strongest messages from both physicians is that no single treatment works in isolation. That's why UTMB's program includes:

• Bariatric surgeons
• Obesity medicine physicians
• Registered dietitians
• Counselors
• Physical therapists
• Body composition and metabolism testing
• Long-term follow-up for lasting success

This cohesive, connected model helps prevent a major risk in weight-loss care: loss of muscle mass, which can undermine long-term metabolic health. UTMB monitors muscle and fat composition continuously—something not always available through online or non-accredited programs.

New advances: Endoscopic procedures and evolving medications

Stark and Samreen agree that exciting developments mean we are in a breakthrough era for obesity care.

Endoscopic bariatric procedures that are incisionless, performed through the mouth, result in lower cost and faster recovery and are ideal for patients with moderate obesity or those who can’t tolerate long-term medications.

Promising medication developments are also making obesity care easier. These include:

• New FDA-approved oral GLP-1 medications
• Reduced cash-pay pricing for several anti-obesity medications
• Anticipated Medicare coverage improvements
• The growing role of medications in treating weight regain after surgery

The bottom line: You don’t have to navigate this alone

Patients often delay care because of fear, stigma, or confusion about where to start. But UTMB is here to help.

“Whatever their path—surgery, medication, or both—we just want to help our patients be healthy," Stark says.

This video is the first of many conversations between Samreen and Stark as they work to educate, empower, and support patients throughout Texas and beyond.

Watch the full conversation to learn more—and take the first step toward understanding your best options for long-term health.

UTMB Health Bariatrics patient Felicity Cunningham joined UTMB Bariatrics surgeon Dr. Sarah Samreen and Houston Moms host Meagan Clanahan to share her experience receiving bariatric surgery at UTMB Health. She's lost half her body weight since having the surgery and said the mental load that's been lifted has been the best part of the process.

Thorough communication, patient care, patience and support helped Cam Blackwell make a full recovery after injuring her ankle while practicing with her softball team during her senior year of high school. Dr. John Hagedorn, associate professor and surgeon with the Orthopedic Trauma team, was the lead on Cam's case and ensured he did everything he could to help heal her injury and keep her mother, Lori Blackwell, completely informed and in the loop as things progressed.

To learn more, watch the full discussion.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 out of every 41 men will die of it.

These statistics are why members of the UTMB Health Urology team are so passionate about spreading information about the sometimes-silent disease.

"When they are aware of the disease, men are more likely to seek help from physicians and have conversations about it,” says Dr. Laith Alzweri, surgeon and associate professor within the Department of Surgery’s Urology Division. 

Dr. Stephen Williams, a clinical leader and professor within the departments of Surgery and Radiology, wants patients to know that if they do end up with a positive diagnosis for prostate cancer, there’s lots of options for next steps, but it’s key to have a care team you can trust to guide you throughout the process.

Dr. Stephen Williams on prostate treatment options

Priest Simpson jumped high to catch a football during a game, but he fell to the ground fast when his muscles pulled the still-growing part of his tibia away from his leg and turned it upside down. His leg looked crooked.

“I thought it was dislocated because it was still connected to other part of my knee,” Priest said. His worried parents got him to the emergency room at UTMB League City Hospital.

But his leg wasn’t dislocated. Priest had a displaced avulsion fracture of his tibial tubercle.

“This is a big injury for an athlete but also for anyone who expects normal function of their leg,” said Dr. William Weiss, an orthopedic sports medicine doctor with UTMB Health who treated Priest soon after he arrived at the hospital. “This injury completely disrupts the extensor mechanism of the knee that is the primary mechanism for generating power for running and jumping, which are some of the things Priest does well!”

Priest’s injury was on the more severe end of the scale, requiring an operation with screws to reduce and secure the fragment with patellar tendon tensioning. Dr. Weiss anticipated Priest’s continued growth.

“He recovered well and was discharged from the hospital with the expectation he would return to sports. This injury can end athletic careers for young athletes, but that is not what Priest or his parents – or me – wanted of course.”

The fracture happened in April 2021, and three months later, Dr. Weiss cleared Priest for full training. By September 2021, he cleared him to return to full sport without restrictions. That fall, Priest competed as part of an elite football team representing Texas on the national level.

Then Priest and his family temporarily moved to Africa as part of his family's missionary commitments, Dr. Weiss stayed in touch.

“What stuck out with us, and the reason why we stayed in contact even out of the country, was how Dr. Weiss spent an extreme amount of time with Priest,” said Ariel Simpson, Priest’s mother. “He didn't just rush. We know he's busy. We know he has a lot of patients. But he took his time with Priest. He saw him multiple times before we left the country again. He gave advice beyond the surgery and showed extreme care for Priest.”

Some of Dr. Weiss's advice was to get physical therapy for Priest to strengthen his muscles and tendons around the bones and the ligaments.

“And that really helped with pain,” Ariel Simpson said.

“I started this physical therapy, and then I went to the gym and started working on my legs until I felt strong enough to get back into sports,” Priest said.

He continues working with a trainer on a well-rounded routine that includes running, balancing, band work and weightlifting. He works out with the trainer every other day for 90 minutes in addition to his sports practices and games.

“Bottom line is that this is a great young man who has overcome a significant injury and continues to be very active in various sports with great potential for his future,” Dr. Weiss said. “I expect great things from him in all aspects of his life, not just sports.”

Priest, now 14, and his family visited friends [extended family] in Texas in December. They visited with Dr. Weiss in person before they returned to their missionary work in Africa.

“As a parent, it's difficult to watch your child in any kind of pain at all,” Ariel Simpson said. “We didn't know how he was going to recover or what that was going to look like. But it's incredible if you are surrounded by a medical staff and specifically a surgeon who cares. It made a difference to us very deeply in this stressful, heartbreaking moment.”

“To see how strong he is today really takes your breath away when you think about how he's recovered,” said Sean Simpson, Priest’s father. “Now he's 6 foot. He's healthy. He's 170 pounds. Seeing what he can do and work out his full body— it's just impressive.”

Priest, who plays soccer and basketball too, has a strategic game plan for when he returns to live in the United States.

“I want to come back to play high school football and get a scholarship to play college football,” he said.

And he’s still growing.