Case Study – Patient 3 G.B.

Operation – Sleeve Gastrectomy

Presenter of BBC Guernsey’s popular breakfast show, Gary Burgess used to be, quite literally, a larger than life figure, but he’s undergone a massive transformation recently.

Since a life-changing weight loss operation in September 2009, the 34-year old anchorman is now as light on his feet off-air as he is on it. Anyone who knew or had seen pictures of Gary before his gastrectomy could now easily walk past him in the street.

Not that long ago, the word ‘big’ would have pretty much summed up the former 19-stone presenter. Six months after his operation and already more than seven stone lighter, these days 5ft 7in Gary is, to steal a radio soundbite, nearly half the man he was.

It’s all a far cry from last summer when he was sporting size XXXL clothes, had a 44in-waist and worshipped at the foot of his own ‘chocolate and crisps cupboard.’

So where did it all go right, then? Firstly, Gary, who felt he had tried every diet and gym membership known to man, finally accepted that when it came to food he had no will power.

“It’s like any other addiction – it’s hard to explain why you do it to yourself. I would feel so sad, getting home from the station, eating biscuits while counting the calories on the packet.

“I knew I was a heart attack waiting to happen, I was worried about diabetes, I had asthma attacks and I was classed as morbidly obese. But while I realised I had all these problems, I had no solution. I was slowly killing myself but somehow I just couldn’t stop.”

Then, a letter from his much-loved mum Linda proved a catalyst. After she and his dad Ken, who live in the UK, had been over to visit, Gary got a letter saying that they’d both enjoyed a wonderful time but were desperately worried about his weight.

“I realised I had been deluding myself and I realised my solution was surgery.”

That surgery can lead to a 60% weight loss within 12 months and after meeting with the surgeon, who outlined the procedure and other options, Gary went away to think about it. After discussing it with his partner and family, Gary’s operation, which cost £8,700, went ahead in early September at Spire Southampton Hospital, and his recovery saw some pain, tears and even a spot of swearing at a strict but ‘brilliant’ nurse. But within a day of the keyhole surgery she had him walking about. He hasn’t looked back since.“Basically the decision I made last year has changed my world: it’s given me my life back.”

“I don’t feel hungry and I can’t overeat or I’d be ill. It’s the perfect solution for someone like me.”

The change has left him feeling fighting fit and well on course for his 11-stone target. He has much more energy these days and a far busier social life.

“Basically the decision I made last year has changed my world: it’s given me my life back.”