New weight loss programs are evolving all the time.
Experts say you should talk with a specialist to find out which one is best for you.
Castle Medical Center has something called the "lap band" procedure.
Many Americans are overweight and when they want to do something about that, there are a variety of diets or surgical procedures that can work.
One such procedure is called the "lap band."
Castle's surgical weight loss manager explains.
"It's less invasive, meaning that there's no re-routing of the abdominal stomach or abdominal organs. It's purely restrictive,” said Carol Enderle, weight loss manager.
Joel Kamakele went through the lap band procedure.
"My max weight was 360 and I drive truck and we go on a scale and I'd affect the truck scale. If I jump off, the truck scale would drop dramatically and that's in tons,” said Kamakele.
Like every patient, Joel had to go through extensive pre-screening before the lap band procedure.
"Yes, everyone goes through initial evaluations. We also meet with our program psychologists, our dieticians, our fitness and so it's a whole comprehensive program,” said Enderle.
Enderle says the Castle program is unique.
"We are the only center of excellence here in the state and that we're a very comprehensive program and that we have dieticians and fitness trainers, we have exercise psychologists as well and it's a multi-disciplinary program,” said Enderle.
The outpatient procedure seems to have worked for Joel. He says his daughter was his ultimate motivation.
"Daddy, can I go outside. No - it's not because it's dangerous or it's raining, it's because daddy's fat and lazy. I don't want to get up and go out and watch you outside. And now it's I'm pulling her outside,” said Kamakele.
