Orthopaedic surgeon Chris Oliver from Edinburgh was morbidly obese. He weighed over 27 stone and had become virtually immobile. Three years ago he could hardly climb a flight of stairs. This year he cycled over 1000 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats.
After unsuccessfully following several diets he realised that obesity was ruining his life and he took the decision to have a gastric band fitted early in 2007. He knew that the gastric band was a tool to help him change his life and after his procedure he lost more than 10 stone in weight and forced himself back to physical fitness.
What was his inspiration?
He said “I wanted to get fit again and be healthy but most of all after my weight loss surgery I realised that this was a second chance at life and that each day we live is so valuable”
BBC News 20/10/09
NOSC View
There are many misconceptions about obesity and there is a great deal of judgement and unfair discrimination. This story shows that although their job is to promote health and well-being, people in the medical profession struggle with obesity in the same way as the rest of the population.