Thread by @sindivanzyl, The topic of #obesity is always going to be a challenging one. [...]

The topic of #obesity is always going to be a challenging one. There are many things to consider and even though we don& #39;t always agree, we& #39;re having the conversation

I was born into an obese family. My great-grandmother was obese. My grandmother was obese. My mom was obese. I could go on. My understanding of #obesity was that it was hereditary and that was that.

Body positivity - there was lots of that! I was always affirmed and my Mom made sure that I was comfortable with my obesity

But I do not recall a discussion about the health risks associated with #obesity

I always talk about how accompanying my granny to the clinic helped cement my decision to become a medical doctor. Those numerous clinic visits were due to her #obesity and what I now recognise as metabolic syndrome. My granny had high blood pressure and diabetes

In 1992 my grandmother had a stroke and died in our house. My Mom was never the same again after that and our lives changed drastically. I was only 16 years old and I still desperately needed a Gogo. She was gone. Cardiovascular disease due to her #obesity

My Mom and aunt would get very defensive whenever they were confronted about her #obesity . Understandably so. Family, friends, and healthcare professionals can be quite insensitive when broaching this subject. And hopefully we& #39;re all going to learn from the TL discussions

2013

The unimaginable happened and my life was plunged into darkness. My worst nightmare came true. My beloved Mom died after a short illness. She had metabolic syndrome, was diabetic and had high blood pressure. Again linked to her #obesity

Her passing away came just seven weeks after my admission to a mental health facility for depression and my life fell apart. Literally. I& #39;ve spoken about this on many occasions. My life fell apart in every possible way.

And for the first time ever, I took stock of my #obesity

I looked at my own life, I looked at the #Caramellos and I asked myself if I wanted them to be without a Mommy at the age of 37.

One day I had chest pain, and I called my GP Dr @MarlinMcKay . We chatted a bit and he said that I needed to take a look at my sugar intake

He was so chilled out about it. But his words struck a chord. December 2014 I decided to change my life for the sake of my children. And that decision started with me accepting that body positivity aside, I had to deal with my #obesity

#obesity

The first frame is my fave!

2014 vs 2016 with Bonsile. We decided to change our eating habits together

I& #39;ve gained some weight since then but I have managed to maintain most of the changes that I have made to my eating habits by sticking to the food pyramid shared

That& #39;s my #obesity story

My life lesson has been the worst possible one. There is not a day that goes by without me missing my Mom. Those of you that are close to me know this. I& #39;m doing my best and all but I& #39;d give anything to have her back

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Rotes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Rotes Herz">

August 2019

I started walking with @KamonaDanny

A year later we& #39;re still at it!

I& #39;d walk 5km in 2 hours guys. Then we started entering races and my personal best is 5km in 56 minutes

One step at a time and maybe one day I& #39;ll run the Comrades with Danny!

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