in front Belinda Gray Despite the possibility of being placed on the waiting list for an organ transplant, she had to face major hurdles. Lower your body mass index (BMI) to qualify Kidney transplant.
“I started losing weight on my own, but it was really hard. I needed more help,” said the 59-year-old Chicagoland native.
This year, Gray became the first patient to qualify for the University of Chicago Medicine's groundbreaking ACTNOW transplant weight loss program and receive a transplant.
The Access to Transplant Through New Approaches initiative (ACNOW) helps patients lose weight, qualify for transplant surgery, and improve outcomes through coaching and personalized medication-assisted treatment plans. Transplant-trained care team members include advanced practice provider Courtney Kelly, DNP, APN; transplant pharmacists Anesia Reticker, Pharm.D., and Jenna Boznos, Pharm.D.; and nutritionist Annie Guinan, MS, RD.
ACNOW co-founder Reticker has been working on the nationally acclaimed program since the clinic opened in 2023.
“This clinic started because I wanted to help people who are underserved and underrepresented because of their weight. 'How can I get patients on the waiting list with a new weight loss drug and then put them on the waiting list?' 'Can we treat it beyond that?'” Reticker said.
ACNOW participants are prescribed a GLP-1 agonist drug, which stands for glucagon-like peptide 1. These drugs work by mimicking the effects of the body's naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, which is produced in the intestines in response to food intake. The GLP-1 weight loss drugs on offer are known by many names, including semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, Ozempic, Wigoby, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.
“These are life-changing and life-saving drugs,” Reticker said. “They improve blood sugar control, delay stomach emptying, help you feel full sooner and for longer, and help quiet cravings and 'food noise.'”
Dr. Ashley Sua, a transplant surgeon who specializes in kidney and liver transplants, emphasizes the importance of meeting BMI standards. She noted that before a Gray transplant, a patient must reach a BMI of less than 35 to be successful.
“From a technical point of view, the surgery becomes more difficult when the patient is obese. Our main goal as surgeons is to protect the safety of our patients. Increased body fat mass associated with obesity This can make it difficult to access certain blood vessels,” Sua said. Challenging. Additionally, obese patients are at risk for more complications and may take longer to recover. ”
For patients who are too heavy to undergo a transplant, access to the ACTNOW clinic is revolutionary.
“This program is amazing,” Sua said. “Reliable access to these experts and medicines is important, and we are fortunate to have a dedicated care team that meets our patients' needs and helps them succeed.”
In addition to weekly at-home GLP-1 injections, patients in the ACTNOW program follow a personalized nutrition plan designed to meet their individual needs. They work closely with program experts to ensure success.
Guinane, a nutritionist and co-founder of ACNOW, helps patients make dietary and lifestyle changes to support their weight loss goals.
“We meet patients where they are,” Guinan said. “It doesn't happen overnight, but by making small changes over time and continuing to do so after transplant, we've had great success.”
GLP-1 drugs help effectively suppress appetite, making it easier for patients to follow a meal plan like the Mediterranean diet and stay motivated to reach their goals.
“They love it and they feel empowered,” Guinan said. “I tell them to think of this drug like a trusted sidekick. Combined with exercise and dietary changes, they will be successful.”
Gray found the program easy to understand. She achieved her weight loss goal in about a year and became eligible for a kidney transplant in February 2024. She will continue to take GLP-1 medication as part of her post-transplant care to continue to manage her weight.
“I would recommend this program to everyone. I had the support I needed and the medication helped me feel fuller and reach my goals more easily,” Gray said. Ta.
