In celebration of former patients who have successfully maintained their postbariatric surgery weight loss through healthy lifestyle changes, the STHS Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center is inviting them to rock the runway and share their inspiring stories
Obesity remains a critical public health issue affecting communities across the United States, including the Rio Grande Valley.
Currently, about 40% of U.S. adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), representing an estimated 100 to 126 million adults nationwide. Meanwhile, the severe obesity rate stands at nearly 10%.
“Weight gain is rarely caused by a single factor,” says Luis Reyes, MD, a bariatric and general surgeon who serves as the medical director of the South Texas Health System (STHS) Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center. “ Genetics, environment, stress and lifestyle habits all play a role, making obesity one of the most complex public health challenges we face today.”
Linked to more than 200 chronic diseases and health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and osteoarthritis, obesity contributes to one in five deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the American Journal of Public Health.
For some individuals striving to lose excess weight and improve their health, weight-loss surgery may be a critical first step in a comprehensive journey toward better health.
In the U.S., nearly 280,000 patients undergo bariatric procedures each year, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), with sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass among the most common procedures.
In the Rio Grande Valley, the STHS Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center has guided individuals struggling with excess weight toward long-term weight loss and better health through the expertise of its board-certified surgeons.
“For individuals on a weight-loss journey, bariatric surgery can open the door to a healthier, more fulfilling life,” says Amy Flores, MSN, RN, Director, STHS Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center. “Patients are often seeking lasting results, not short-term solutions, and our program at STHS Heart supports them in achieving long-term health and wellness both before and after surgery.”
Bariatric surgery has demonstrated a long-term success rate of approximately 68% to 74%, according to the ASMBS. Most patients maintain 50% to 75% of their excess weight loss, with some studies showing these results can be sustained for up to 20 years. Beyond weight loss, Flores notes that many patients at the STHS Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center report an improved quality of life and a reduction in obesity-related health conditions.
“Weight loss surgery is a proven tool that empowers patients to lose significant weight, improve obesity-related health conditions and enjoy a better quality of life—sometimes even extending their lifespan,” Flores says. “But it’s not an overnight solution. It’s the beginning of a long-term journey that requires lasting lifestyle changes to achieve sustained success.”
To honor individuals who have achieved lasting success after bariatric surgery, the STHS Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center will host its fourth annual Transformation Celebration Fashion Show, an event that highlights men and women who have transformed their lives through weight loss surgery and sustained their results through healthy lifestyle choices like proper nutrition and regular physical activity.
Scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Transformation Celebration Fashion Show will be held at the Verta Hotel McAllen (formerly the Radisson Hotel McAllen Airport) at 2721 S. 10th St. in McAllen. The event will spotlight former bariatric patients as they share their inspirational stories and take to the runway in haute fashion.
“The Transformation Celebration Fashion Show is about more than fashion; it’s about hope, resilience and the lifechanging impact of healthier living,” says Tom Castañeda, System Director of Marketing & Public Relations, STHS. “Watching former patients confidently walk the runway and share their journeys is a powerful reminder that lasting change is possible through commitment, support and healthy lifestyle choices.”
STHS’ Transformation Celebration Fashion Show is free and open to the public. For complete details, please visit the STHS Facebook Events page. If you have any questions, please contact the STHS Marketing Department at 956-388-2026 or sthsmarketing@uhsinc.com.
For more information on the STHS Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center, visit southtexashealthsystemheart.com.
Who: South Texas Health System Heart
What: Transformation Celebration Fashion Show
When: Saturday, April 18, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Verta Hotel McAllen
2721 S. 10th St.
McAllen, TX 78503
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first dedicated children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.
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