I was born with the disease of obesity and by the time I finished college it had progressed to morbid obesity. At the age of 33, my disease was treated with gastric bypass surgery that resulted in weight loss that put my disease, morbid obesity, into remission. Three years later I suffered a relapse of my disease with a weight gain of 20 pounds. Through adherence to diet and lifestyle, much like a person with heart disease who relapses, I was able to put my disease, obesity, back into remission. I will always have the disease of morbid obesity and I am fortunate to be able, at a young age, to be treated with the best medical option available.

The facts:

• The obesity is an illness.
• Weight loss puts the disease into remission.
• Weight gain puts the disease into relapse.
• Like most diseases, victims of obesity are responsible for making dietary and lifestyle changes that work with medical treatment to keep our disease in remission.
• Like most diseases, relapses occur, obesity manifests relapses in weight gain.
• We are not the disease, we have the disease.

My four truths:

1. Recovery is likely: In general, it is believed that 80% of people who undergo weight-loss surgery (WLS) will experience a weight gain (relapse) of 10 to 30 pounds, depending on weight loss initial. It is further believed that 20% of them will return to their previous weight and possibly gain more as the disease of morbid obesity progresses. This relapse may be the result of failed gastric surgery (surgery not performed correctly or medical device failure); a non-compliant patient who does not evolve his eating and exercise habits; the active intestine becomes more efficient in absorbing calories; and possible stretching of the stomach pouch. Dr. Anita Courcoulas, chief of minimally invasive general and bariatric surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said, “Future weight regain is a common phenomenon for weight-loss patients. These patients need to be educated and prepared. for it if it happens. .”
2. 100% belief: It is my experience that 100% of patients who come to the operating table for treatment of their disease say: “I am not going to be one of those people who gain weight after surgery.” You can bet the farm I said that, and imagine my embarrassment and embarrassment when I actually became one of those people. I didn’t understand at the time that my disease had relapsed, partly because I had relaxed my new eating and exercise habits, but also because my body has a disease that wants to store excess fat. I thought I gained weight because I failed the surgery.
3. I failed AGAIN! I am not alone in my feelings of failure to regain the weight. Dr. Courcoulas said: “These are people who feel like they have failed at everything they have tried in their lives. If they feel like the surgery is failing, they feel ashamed and don’t want to go back for help.” How sad for us. When a cancer patient suffers a relapse, do you take it as a personal failure? I sure hope not. The popular media perpetuates the belief that weight gain equals failure. WLS celebrities are featured in major media outlets and tabloids alike to regain weight. But the celebrity with cancer who relapses? Charity events are organized that bear her name and her bravery is praised. With a relapse into obesity, the celebrity becomes the butt of jokes by late-night comedians. No wonder we don’t want to become one of those people but the statistics are not on our side
4. I am not obese. Since kindergarten the word “fat” defined me and I actually thought it was who I was because “you’re fat” and “I’m fat” were constant phrases in my world. Around the age of 40 I finally discovered that I am not fat. I have obesity, a disease. Have you heard a heart attack patient say, “I’m heart disease” or a leukemia patient say, “I’m cancer”? We are not the disease! We have a disease that is part of the whole person that makes us the wonderfully unique and powerful person that we are.

Relapse into remission: Like other diseases, obesity relapse can be put into remission. There is hope! As noted above, there are (at least) four reasons for relapse, including: failed gastric surgery; a non-compliant patient who does not evolve his eating and exercise habits; the active intestine becomes more efficient in absorbing calories; and possible stretching of the stomach pouch. Knowing that you are statistically likely to gain the weight back, that you are not a failure, and that you are not the disease, you can pragmatically plan a plan to combat your relapse.

• Seek medical help and treatment – you are fighting a deadly disease
• Evaluate the evolution of diet and exercise and return to the lifestyle prescribed at the time of surgery
• Learn about nutrition, physical and spiritual health so you can work in harmony to heal your body.
• Seek out support, family, friends, the community, and other patients to help keep you motivated.
• Educate others to end ignorance and guilt and promote understanding of this disease we are fighting.