Wonder Women: Rise of the Obesity Warriors. This Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the women who took charge of their health, fought the Obesity stigma and emerged stronger than ever!
The role of women in today’s world has changed significantly and for the better. They’re wives, mothers, caregivers and breadwinners, often juggling all these roles at the same time. Studies show that women make 80% of the healthcare decisions in their families, often while putting their own health on the back burner. It’s high time that we not only encourage, but also empower women to make their health a priority including regularly visiting a doctor, adhering to a healthy diet, exercising, and prioritizing mental health.
Let’s hear it from some wonder women who battled Obesity and related diseases and stigma. They tried dieting, lifestyle modifications and exercises, but failed to lose weight in a sustainable manner. What makes these women stand out is that all of them took charge of their body, understood obesity is a chronic health disease. They not only won the battle against obesity, but also regained their health and a new life.
We spoke to Dr Shashank Shah, one of India’s leading obesity surgeons, about the many women warriors he has treated. “This is not about a surgery or medical intervention; this is about women finding ways to beat the odds and fight a very dangerous epidemic. This is about celebrating women who have overcome this disease and making others aware because there are many who still don’t know about the treatment options available to fight obesity.”
Wonder Women: Rise of the Obesity Warriors. One of his best remembered case is that of a patient who called him from Hong Kong after being stopped at immigration due to her drastic transformation. Due to her change in appearance, there was complete mismatch with the photo in her passport. Here’s the inspiring stories:
1.It was worth going all the way to Hong Kong to get the most memorable compliment of my life”
“I wanted to travel around the world,but my struggles with obesity stopped me from doing so. I weighed a whopping 130kgs at the age of 38 years and every weight loss attempt had been unsuccessful. I had difficulty in breathing, suffered from joint pain, high blood pressure and diabetes. My family doctor advised me to undergo bariatric surgery. I now weigh 65 kgs and am disease-free. I got the biggest compliment from an immigration officer in Hong Kong, who said I look way younger than the person in my passport.”
2.From death bed to an industrialist’s chair, I have come a long way”
“I had uncontrolled diabetes from 2007 that led to a lot of stress and depression in my life. After trying various treatments unsuccessfully for over 7 years, I was warned by a doctor that I would not live for more than a few months as diabetes had affected almost all my organs. I finally found a solution in Bariatric surgery, and after undergoing it in 2014, I am now diabetes- free. Life has given me a second chance; I have now started my own company. I have won several awards, all thanks to the regained confidence in myself.
3.Undergoing Bariatric surgery has been the best decision of my life – I am finally living my best life”
“I was morbidly obese, weighing 131 kg s and wheelchair bound. Such was my situation that I could barely make it to the washroom on my own. Along with the obesity, came several other related problems ranging from severe joint pain, hyperthyroidism, uncontrolled diabetes and severe breathlessness. My quality of life suffered I was advised to lose weight by every doctor I consulted. But no weight loss solution worked for me. Eventually I underwent bariatric surgery in 2016 and after losing 58 kg s, today I am off all medications and living my life to the fullest.
