Devan, Malaysia

Devan, an hotelier, has unsuccessfully battled obesity for 15 years. “I have tried dieting, exercising—by going to the gym, and seeing health practitioners on weight loss programs.” One program seemed to work as he experienced gradual weight loss for the first three months, but when his weight remained stagnant in the fourth and fifth month, he lost interest in the program and regained the lost pounds.

“I resorted to my usual indulgence of good food,” he confesses, adding that he developed a penchant for good food (thanks to his mother’s skill in the kitchen and his career in the hospitality industry).

By New Year’s in 2007, Devan was determined to lose weight, especially as he and his wife were expecting their first child. “I want to be able to do things with my family, I want to help my wife more, and I do not want obesity to be a hindrance,” he explained. He came to KPJ Damansara’s Severe Obesity Center, which only had opened in the previous year. At the time, his body mass index (BMI) was 54.8. Two months afterward, his BMI was down to 46.

“Now I feel more energetic, more alert and very much lighter,” he says, enthusiastically. “I am very happy with my decision to overcome obesity, and I am looking forward to the next phase of my life, which I hope will be much better.” He has kept off the weight with healthier eating habits and exercise, thanks to the skilled medical guidance he received from the staff at KPJ Damansara.