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GUEST COLUMN

August 30

My battle with obesity

By Dr. Joe Leonardi

After my obesity column appeared in last week’s Dispatch, I received many phone calls, emails and letters asking what motivated me to drop all the weight. Here is my story.

Do you walk into a restaurant and look for a table because you can’t fit in a booth?

Do you always take an elevator because even one flight of stairs leaves you exhausted; gasping for air?

Is the simple act of tying your shoes a contortionistic maneuver?

Almost a year and a half ago, my answers to the above questions would have been an embarrassing — yes!

I had finally tired of compromising my life so on a fateful day in March 2008, I hopped upon my dust-covered scale. The spring moaned and groaned as the needle revolved past the end of its limit. I held my breath and peered down over the beach ball ballooning from my abdomen — I couldn’t quite see the rather large and over-sized dial. With a gale forced inhalation, I sucked in my gut and strained to see the dreaded digits:

3 … 4 … 0

Three hundred and forty ponderous, pachydermian pounds.

I released my breath and heaved a heavy sigh. At least I could console myself with the ten pounds that clothing adds — never-mind, I was only wearing a pair of light cotton shorts.

Stunned, I paced the floor. I knew I had gained weight, but there was no way I was over 300 pounds, let alone close to 350. Surely, the scale must be out of calibration. I place a 40 pound weight upon the platform expecting the number to reach 80. No such luck — the indicator stopped spot on at 40.

It was official — I was morbidly obese.

I took photographs from the front and the side. I was expecting to just see a large, big-boned guy staring back at me — what I saw was a pin-sized head atop a rotund, pear shaped body. I then placed some older clothes side by side with my then wardrobe. It was eye opening. There is a stark contrast between a size 38 and 54 pants and a size 56 and a 46 sports coat. I wondered how this could have happened. Then I remembered, plenty of burgers, fries, pizza and pasta, followed each night by two servings of ice cream — blasted Ben and Jerry for those single serving containers.

The next day I headed down to Danko’s and reactivated my long dormant membership. The owner, Larry Danko, cheerfully greeted me. I told him I had to get back in shape and with an optimistic and confident tone he told me, “You can do it.”

Larry was correct. In one year I had recaptured my physique; but more importantly, I have recaptured my wellness. I am very aware of the potential damage I may have done to myself. However, I am blessed with being cared for by a cadre of skilled physicians and they have reassured me, at least for now, there are no apparent signs of damage.

Obesity is a direct cause of some serious diseases, serious, PREVENTABLE, diseases.

Obesity is not just a concern among adults. It is a growing, dare I use the word, epidemic concern with our youth. Type II diabetes, commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes, is showing up in children as young as ten. We have a grave public health problem; one that does not need to exist.

I was asked recently that if now that I lost the weight, I thought I was going to live longer. For a moment I pondered the question then answered, “I honestly don’t know, however I do know one thing, I am living better.”

Dr. Joe Leonardi operates Leonardi Family Chiropractic Office, 250 Pierce Street, Kingston. He writes guest opinions on a regular basis.