Battling Fires and Obesity: Beau's Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Story

As a firefighter and liaison for the Chester County fire service, Beau fully understands the risks that come with the job including the risk of heart attack and stroke. Due to his weight impeding his physical fitness, Beau resigned from his position as a volunteer firefighter, which was a devastating loss for him.

He knew it was time to make a change.

After attending a free information session, Beau chose the Penn Medicine Bariatric Surgery program because, in addition to getting his own personal team of surgeons, nurses, dietitians and psychologists, it seemed to be the most comprehensive program.

Bariatric surgery, such as a vertical sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgery, reduces your stomach size, limiting the amount of food you can eat to help you lose weight. It also causes levels of ghrelin (a “hunger” hormone) to drop, so you appetite is initially reduced.

All people considering bariatric surgery at Penn must meet specific criteria, including: body weight greater than 100 pounds overweight, a BMI greater than or equal to 40 or greater than 35 with medical complications related to obesity, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea.

Due to the amazing results Beau experienced from his bariatric surgery at Penn, he is back serving his county as a volunteer firefighter and is even running 5K’s.

He couldn’t be happier about the secondary health benefits he has received from undergoing bariatric surgery. Not only has he gone from weighing 443 pounds to a healthy 215 pounds, he is thrilled to say, “I’m off all my meds, I’m no longer a diabetic, no more high blood pressure, everything’s just gone.”

Are you ready for a change? Learn more about who is a candidate for weight-loss surgery, what to expect, and the different types of procedures: https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/bariatric-surgery

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