Event raises nearly $14,000 to fight obesity
By MELISSA WALKER
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
October 1, 2006
Amy Middle did something this month that she hasn't done in two years - put on a pair of blue jeans.
"That was pretty exciting," Middle, 39, of Des Moines said with a smile on her face.
Middle, recovering from Aug. 28 gastric bypass surgery, walked in Iowa's first "Walk From Obesity" event Saturday in Waukee.
About 200 individuals participated in the event, which raised $13,900 for research, education, prevention and treatment of obesity. Des Moines Bariatrics sponsored the fundraiser, which included information on healthy eating, bariatric surgery, exercise tips and support groups.
Jen Kersey, 25, of Des Moines, a participant in "The Biggest Loser" reality TV show, was at the walk to share her story and to help motivate those trying to lose weight or to keep it off.
Iowa ranks 20th in the nation for its per capita rate of obesity, said Dr. Todd Eibes, medical director of bariatrics for Iowa Health Des Moines. The obesity problem continues to grow, Eibes said. Five years ago his patients were 100 to 110 pounds overweight. Now, they are 200 pounds overweight.
Susan Wolder, 46, of Des Moines said her weight has fluctuated over the years. She's down 11 pounds now and says she has 40 more to go.
Wolder walked with Becky Sprague, 43, of Ankeny. Sprague lost 95 pounds five years ago without surgery.
"I was just tired of feeling bad, sluggish, not in good health," she said.
The two-mile walk was something Middle wouldn't have easily been able to do before her surgery. She has asthma, and prior to her 41-pound weight loss she hadn't been able to walk up stairs.
"I started off at 366. I'm basically going to lose a whole person," Middle said of her goal to weigh 185 pounds.
Middle tried Weight Watchers 11 times, the Atkins diet, the cabbage soup diet, Slim Fast and even weight loss drugs. Each time she couldn't keep the weight off.
"I've been fighting this for 20 years," she said.
Her husband, Clark, has joined her new healthier lifestyle and hopes to drop to 170 pounds.
Ed Reed walked in bib overalls he hasn't worn in 10 years. He has lost 80 pounds since his bariatric surgery in June and walked Saturday in support of others, like himself, who have struggled with their weight.
Gone are the large-size pizza meals, high blood pressure and Type-II diabetes that were a part of the 45-year-old Des Moines truck driver's life. Now he stops at rest areas to take walks.
Dr. Stephen Sundberg of Boone understands firsthand the effect gastric bypass surgery can have on one's life. Sundberg was a general surgeon and became a bariatric surgeon after his own gastric bypass surgery four years ago.
Sundberg had diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and took 10 medicines to combat those ailments and others he said were associated with obesity. He dropped 90 pounds and now takes vitamins only.
Keeping the weight off hasn't been easy, however, and his eye is constantly on the scale, he said.
Obesity Event