Bariatric Surgery

For as long as she could remember, Diana Rodriguez had struggled to maintain a healthy weight.

“Growing up, I was always a bigger girl,” Diana said. “It had been difficult for me eat well and exercise consistently my whole life, and as I got more out of shape, it became even harder to start those healthy habits.”

But in 2015, something changed. Diana’s weight was the highest it had ever been, and she began to feel the stress it was placing on her lower back and hips, as well her mental health.

Diana (left) prior to her initial bariatric surgery at UI Health in 2015.

As a UI Health employee and a long-time primary care patient here, Diana was familiar with UI Health’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program and its patient education offerings. She decided to attend one of the program’s monthly Bariatric Support Group sessions to learn more about weight management options, including surgery.

“Dr. Mario Masrur delivered the presentation about gastric sleeve surgery,” she remembered. “He was so attentive and understanding. I could tell from the start that this was the right program for me.”

After a few additional consultations with Dr. Masrur, a bariatric surgeon, and nurse practitioner Myriam Davis, Diana underwent a gastric sleeve surgery.

Her recovery was smooth, and over the next five years, she was pleased with the results of her surgery. She was eating healthy and exercising consistently, losing weight, and feeling confident in her body. But in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she began to feel her progress slipping.

“Gastric sleeve surgery is a great option for many patients struggling with weight loss, but keeping that weight off requires lifestyle changes,” said Dr. Masrur. “Everything we experienced in 2020 made it difficult for many people to meet their fitness and nutrition goals. So when our team looked at Diana’s situation, we recommended gastric bypass surgery to get her additional support.”

Unlike gastric sleeve surgery, which involves removing a portion of the patient’s stomach but keeping the digestive process unchanged, gastric bypass surgery works by connecting the top of a patient’s stomach directly to their small intestine to speed up digestion and improve metabolism.

For a while, that solution worked. Her eating habits got back on track, and she was exercising more often. But, as time went on, she found it difficult to manage her weight. That was when her care team suggested adding GLP-1 medication to her treatment plan.

Ultimately, this was the solution that has allowed Diana to get down to her goal weight — and maintain it.

However, at times Diana felt she might have been losing too much weight, too quickly. To address this concern, Diana’s care team helped her to modify both her lifestyle and her medication dosage to ensure the weight loss was not too significant or sudden. Dietitian Jeremy O’Neal worked with Diana to adjust her diet and workout routine, and Myriam Davis, the nurse practitioner, also lowered her GLP-1 dosage.

“I thought I would always be stuck in these cycles of losing weight and gaining it back, but my team never gave up on me,” she said. “They taught me that this journey is all about making adjustments until you find the right balance for you.”

Diana, shown here in 2026, is safely and successfully managing her weight following gastric bypass surgery with the use of GLP-1 medication.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with a UI Health clinician to discuss weight management options, visit the Weight Management Program or call one of the clinics below:

Nutrition & Wellness: 312.413.3631
Medical Weight Loss: 312.413.3631
Bariatric Surgery: 312.996.5100