IDAHO FALLS - A group of weight loss patients from EIRMC's "New U" program is celebrating graduation Thursday night. They have collectively lost massive amounts of weight after lap band surgery.

Basically, "New U" is a support group. Its ran through EIRMC, and to graduate the patients have to keep up with a tough regiment of health habits long after the surgery.

"It has been a long road," says "New U" Graduate Brenda Mabey.

Its a road that Mabey hasn't had to go on alone.

"New U saved my life," says Mabey. "I would gain and loose and again and loose and gain and loose."

Now, she's just loosing with the support of EIRMC's New U program.

"You have to find that self image again, to be able to look in the mirror to say I like what I see, I like who I am. Not just the inside of me, but the outside of me, I like me," says Mabey.

"The good long term weight loss depends on a lot of lifestyle behavior changes and behavior modifications," says Dr. David Chamberlain, a "New U" surgeon.

For that reason, "New U" patients have to go through months of prep before the actual surgery. And just finding out if you're insurance will pay for your surgery can be a headache all by itself.

"It would've been a nightmare, I probably would've given up," says Mabey.

Mabey also says the lap band is only a tool, and programs like New U are the key to success. IN the program, patients not only get physical help through the surgery and dietary education, but through psychological help as well.

"Obesity is the number one leading cause of preventable death in the country," says Dr. Chamberlain.

That is exactly why EIRMC runs "New U"

The cost of the "New U" Program comes along with the cost of the surgery.