This is me in August 2011, I am 5ft 5 inches tall and I weigh 19st 12lb. My body mass index is 46.2 which is classified as morbid obesity.Being a person on the large size I have also received my fair share of discrimination and verbal abuse, both from childhood thought to present day. All attempts have only been short lived and over the years I must have lost and gained over 30 stones. My weight has fluctuated constantly over 40 years and has steadily increased. that I’m not a typical “couch potato” and have always lead a very active life but the weight situation is getting increasingly worst. In June 2011 I won two silver medals in the world karate championshipssilver medals in the world karate championships for my style at my heaviest weight. At 45 I was too heavy to ride my horse and the decision was made to place her on loan. My doctor has tried Xenicol and Reductil but these had failed so the process of gastric banding with the NHS was suggested. The only problem was I wasn’t large enough and any funding from the NHS was refused. It seemed that another battle with my weight was being lost and I felt that no one was out there to support my a healthier life. This has been a long journey since childhood and I have experienced a lot of prejudice of being pigeon holed into a particular category due to other people’s perception. You have freed me from all this. Deborah-after-gastric-bandIt is an extremely difficult and emotional time for anyone who has taken this decision. More often than not they have had to undergo many years of careful deliberation and research to ensure that the life changing decision is the correct one. To make that phone call takes a lot of guts and strength of character. On the 14th November 2011 I underwent my gastric banding. I would just like to thank you for your exemplary support network that I am currently experiencing with yourself and your team. This is me at Christmas 2012 weighing in at 11st 12lb and feeling that my life is finally starting. I am due to get married in May 2014 so would like to lose another stone but if I don’t I’m not going to beat myself up about it.
Deborah Kirk, UK
*Weight Loss Surgery Results May Vary: Causes for being overweight or obese vary from person to person.
