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After years of battling with her weight, Bonnie Marshall enlisted the help of Dr.

At 66, Karen Ferguson was on blood pressure medication, exhausted by the daily toll her weight was taking on her health. But after a life-changing gastric bypass surgery, she’s lost more than 100 pounds—and gained her life back.

“I gained weight after having two children, and I've been to a weight-loss program, tried to do things on my own, but it just didn't seem to work,” she says. “I was having a few health issues, and when I asked my doctor about them, he suggested I talk to a bariatric surgeon.”

At 230 pounds, Carrie Taylor wanted to reclaim her life. After failed fad diets and weight-loss supplements, she came to Saint Luke's Surgical Specialists at Saint Luke's North Hospital–Barry Road, curious about our surgical weight-loss options. Today, at 115 pounds—half her original size—she’s not just living. She’s thriving.

Anthony Weatherspoon, 68, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, remembers it like it was yesterday: The day he wasn’t feeling very well in 2024. “I didn’t know what was up,” Anthony says, with his wife, Peggy, at his side.

Distinguishing between everyday worry and an anxiety disorder can be difficult since they share some similar symptoms. However, there are key differences to help identify when worry may be more than just a natural response to life’s challenges. Key differences to consider include:

Frequency and intensity. Normal worry is typically situational and temporary, tied to specific events or challenges. Anxiety disorders involve persistent, excessive worry that is difficult to control and can occur frequently, even without an obvious reason.