My Experience of Morbid Obesity

Like most parents, my parents were keen on providing good food for us as we grew up. My siblings and I grew up with different types of cuisines since my father was a chef. He always made a point of preparing at least two different types of cuisines per week for his family. I enjoyed his cooking, and with all honesty, more than my mother’s.

Food became very dear to me and I always looked forward to dinner time and the once in a while weekend barbeque. I never noticed how much I ate until when I could barely fit in clothes designed for children my age. I also got one size larger and within no time I graduated to two sizes then three. I was no longer the cute chubby baby. My weight got my parents worried. It was now a health concern, I was morbidly obese.

I started getting teased at school and this really affected my self-esteem. I tried wearing baggy jeans and tops to cover up my bulging stomach but that just made me look bigger. I got depressed and every time I would run for some food for comforts such as a bag of chips, some chicken nuggets, and spicy Mexican food. I had no control over food instead I let food control me, and all I thought of was food.

My health started deteriorating and I got hypertension and type 2 diabetes but this did not stop me from wanting to binge eat silently at the comfort of my bedroom. The only place I felt at peace. I no longer wanted to go shopping with my family or even play outside with my siblings and friends. I faked illness so that I stay at home while the rest went to school.

My parents scheduled a visit to a dietician with me in the hope that we would get a weight loss solution. I complied. The visit was worth the while as the dietician took his time to explain a lot about food like portion control, meal planning, eating a balanced diet, working out and taking food as medicine and not vice versa since I was on so many medications at the moment. I was ready to take on every advice from the dietician; I wanted to fix my weight and myself by all means. I was more than willing to change my diet and to start eating healthy. My family was ready to through this journey with me.

A lot changed the weeks that followed the dietician's visit. Our grocery shopping changed to vegetables, healthy meat options and little to no snacks. We no longer ordered take out since my parents had taken upon themselves to make every meal at home following every guideline from the dietician. At first, it was alright for me and I enjoyed the meals and the juices. We always ensured that we had all meals together at the dining table and I loved the moral support.

One month down the line and I had only lost one pound, after all the effort I had put in I felt disappointed, it was not what I expected. I broke down to tears and I stormed out of the room and wet to the store to order every kind of junk I had missed in that one month, the sacrifice was not worth it anymore so I got to my bedroom looked myself in and ate myself to death.

My parents got wind of it and we had a sit-down, they advised me to remain consistent and patient with myself since it took time to gain the weight it would still take time to lose it. I am still a bit overweight at the moment with a BMI of 28.5 but I have come a long way from a BMI of 37. Still, work in progress and I am proud of myself for coming this far.