Balance: Important in Surfing and in Life


Dr. Diego Velarde of Advanced Surgical and Weight Loss Institute is featured in the cover story of the Fall, 2015 issue of Viera MD Magazine. The feature story makes much of the connection between Dr. Velarde’s surfing hobby and the balance he achieves in his professional and personal life. It is a connection that follows Dr. Velarde in several directions. Surfing requires great balance, and so does life. In order to have an emotionally healthy lifestyle, we must learn to keep our families and careers in perspective. In order to be physically healthy, it is important to balance an active lifestyle with healthy nutritional habits.

We live in a culture that tends to extremes of behavior, and some of those choices have very unhealthy consequences. Two-thirds of Americans are considered overweight. One-third of Americans are classified as obese. One in 20 Americans is classified as morbidly obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. Obesity leads to a number of other health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, stoke, osteoarthritis, fatty liver disease and even some types of cancer.

Dr. Velarde’s specialty is bariatric surgery, often assisted by the da Vinci Surgical Robot. Bariatric surgery is minimally invasive, and, paired with a serious commitment to lifestyle change, it offers patients a real opportunity to re-write their own stories. If you have tried and failed to lose weight on your own, it makes sense to consult a professional to see what alternatives are available.

Dr. Velarde will be giving a talk on bariatric surgery and weight loss options on Monday, December 7th at Duran Golf Club, 7032 Stadium Parkway in Viera. To register, log on to Wuesthoff.com or call 800-522-6363.

In Brevard County, Florida, Dr. Diego Velarde at the Advance Surgical and Weight Loss Institute in Merritt Island has over ten years of clinical practice and specializes in bariatric surgery. There are several types of bariatric surgery, including lap band, gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery. Dr. Velarde performs minimally invasive surgery using the da Vinci Surgical Robot, which allows an increased range of motion and more precise movements.