health
Bariatric surgery is a first step toward health
By Sukie Decker Feb. 7, 2008, marked a new beginning for me. I began my journey toward becoming half the woman I used to be; I had bariatric surgery. At my largest I weighed 318 pounds, had a 51-inch waist and my body mass index (BMI) was 51.7. I had a list of co-morbid conditions that threatened my life. At 31 years old, I was playing Russian roulette with my life. My goals with surgery were to be healthy, be happy inside and out, improve my self-esteem, be active with my family and friends, and to not look at food as the answer to stress. Two years post-op, I surpassed my goal and lost 88 percent of my excess body weight. Weight-loss surgery is considered successful when 50 percent of the excess body weight is lost and that weight loss is maintained for five years.
Pag e 3 2
she magazine • january 2012