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Published: Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2008 / Updated: Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2008 03:14 PM

Walkin' and talkin' to combat obesity

Two years ago, Robin Weber would never have attempted a three-mile walk.

Having struggled with obesity for much of her life, Weber, 50, a marketing consultant from Fort Mill, made the decision to have gastric bypass surgery in May 2007. After that, and through a specialized diet and exercise regimen, she has dropped more than 180 pounds and is ready to support others who struggle with obesity.

That's why she participated in the three-mile Walk from Obesity at Concord Mills Mall last Saturday.

"Awareness is one of the most important things," Weber said. "I wanted to be able to support the funding of research."

At her heaviest, Weber weighed 423 pounds, she said, and a few years ago she realized the impact her obesity had on every aspect of her life. She came to the conclusion she needed to address the problem and decided on the gastric bypass option. She began researching surgeons in her area and finally found one she felt comfortable with. She had the procedure at the Northeast Medical Center in Concord, N.C.

Leading up to her surgery Weber dropped her weight to 356 pounds through a combination of diet and exercise in order to make the surgery less dangerous. And despite some initial complications from an unrelated strangulated hernia she had operated on soon after her bypass, she now weighs 242 pounds.

"As you lose the weight, your body is feeling better and better," Weber said.

The walk followed a flat, three-lap course through the mall. It is an annual event and will be held at more than 70 locations across the country this year. It was established to raise money to fund research programs and education about obesity for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the Obesity Action Coalition. In 2007, more than 16,000 walkers participated nationwide and raised $750,000.

This was Weber's first year participating. Originally, she was simply going to be a sponsor, but became "so fired up" after learning more about the walk that she decided to create her own team. Called the Five Guppy Company, she walked with her husband, grandniece and grandnephew. She's also been active in getting the word out about the walk and hopes many more will join.

Sue Rutland, bariatric coordinator for Northeast Medical Center, became interested in helping obese people after years of working as a director of human relations, and seeing those with obesity problems turned away from jobs because of their weight.

"There is a stigma attached to [those with obesity]," she said. "Companies don't have to be ADA compliant with them, don't have to do anything to accommodate them. There's a stigma that they probably couldn't do the job well. ... I became interested in obesity and realized it was an epidemic."

In fact, one recent study shows a rise in adult obesity rates across 37 states last year. According to the "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2008" report released by Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, obesity rates have climbed significantly in several states, with no decreases recorded in any state. The data, which was collected from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, looked at the years 2005 through 2007 and found that almost two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese.

The study also ranked each state by its level of obese adults and revealed that South Carolina ranked fifth with a rate of 29.2 percent. The most obese state is Mississippi. In addition, South Carolina showed a marked increase in obese adults three years in a row.

"It affects everyone from every walk of life," Rutland said. "Obesity knows no barrier, knows no color."

There's hope, though, said Rutland. Gastric bypass surgery is one of several bariatric procedures (those procedures pertaining to obesity) available as an option to reduce weight in the obese. Besides dropping weight, the surgery also helps with conditions found in obese people such as hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes.

Weber said she hopes the walk helped people discover their options and find a way to lead healthier lives.

"That's why I do this, that's why I believe in this walk," Rutland said. "We are now finally getting coverage and getting word out there that there is something individuals can do."

Weber has another message:

"It's important for [the obese] to know it's never too late."