Bethany’s Story

August 29th, 2006

I happened, quite by chance, to watch a programme on TV last night about a 19 year old girl - Bethany Walton - who weighed 34 stone.

You can read more about her here, however it was a moving portrayal about the pressures and un-happiness that had driven Bethany to seek comfort food in such huge quantities. It showed how her life was affected by her gross obesity and gave a clear picture of her future - she was highly likely to die before she reached 30 years old.

That was unless she did something about it.

With a body mass index (BMI) of more than 70 she was more than eligible for weight loss surgery, however few surgeons would undertake the risks of operating on her. Apparently it took six months to find a suitable surgeon, but she and her family then had to face the high risk of her dying on the operating table.

This brave girl underwent the operation which reduced the volume of her stomach by ninety percent. What was exhilarating to see was what happened afterwards.

Losing a stone in weight a month, her weight soon reduced to a still large 30 stone, however the confidence and self-esteem that she started to regain was a joy to watch. She wanted to dress in feminine clothes again, to take care of her appearance, and to enjoy being a teenager.

She has a future again, though there are still plenty of challenges and health issues that she must face.

Entry Filed under: Health Issues