One of the nation’s worst problems in health is obesity. So many people suffer from obesity and obesity related issues in the United States that it has been declared an epidemic. There have been many attempts at combating obesity for children such as days where their television shows won’t air and the message on the screen says “Go out and play!” and the “hour a day” campaign that started to receive a lot of traction when First Lady Obama started her war on obesity. But, what about the adults that struggle with obesity?

There are less programs for the obese adult then there are for children. Because of this lack in programs, it is much harder to lose weight and to keep it off. I have talked to many people that have simply given up on losing weight because “It’s just too hard to do it by yourself.” Even though they have doctors and family, no one really knows how to help. For those people struggling to lose weight, it may seem like an uphill battle that will never end.

I am one of these people. I have been obese my entire life with many failed attempts at losing weight. Nothing ever seemed to work for me. We tried low carb, no carb, low sugar, no sugar, sugar substitutes, high protein, and about 50 other diets. I joined sports to help me as well. I played softball for four years, basketball for three, swimming and soccer for a year, and marching band for five years. And, after all of this, I still could not lose the weight. I felt like a failure and that I would never be able to get to a healthy weight. There was a point in time in November of 2015 that I finally said enough is enough. I have knee pain, back pain, joint pain, and sleeping problems because of my weight (and this doesn’t include all the things that I can’t do with my friends because of my weight). I was tired of being the fat kid and knew I had to do something about it.

That's when I scheduled my information seminar with UC Health Weight Loss Center. The seminar was a way of finding a treatment option for those of us who had been struggling with weight loss for a number of years. I sat there surrounded by people just like me who had been struggling with the same thing and I felt a sense of community. The treatment options that they suggested were all surgical. “If you’re sitting here right now, that’s a sign to all of us at here that you are at your last inch of rope and are ready to seriously change your life. We here at UC Health are prepared to make that happen for you if you are willing to put in the work.” (Jonathan R. Thompson, MD, FACS, FASMBS). After hearing Dr. Thompson’s words, I knew that being here was the right choice.

I am proud to say that after six months of seeing the professionals at UC Health, I am on the fast track a better life. I have changed my eating habits, started exercising three to five times a week, have lost 21lbs, and am on the fast track to my surgery in December of this year. This has been the most life changing experience I have ever had. I not only feel better physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I finally have hope for a healthier me. This is hope that I had given up on long ago and it is all thanks to those at UC Health.