By: Baylie Waller

Jillian Harwood, a University of Oregon student, struggled with weight and body image issues for most of her life.  Her eating disorder began at 7 years old and continued off and on for most of her life.

This is partially because she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affected the way her body uses the hormone insulin, making weight management difficult.

Along with PCOS, Jillian used food as a distraction when she felt the need to combat overwhelming emotions (e.g., happiness, sadness, anger, anxiety, etc.). This kind of behavior greatly contributed to her excessive weight gain.

“Food was my drug of choice,” Harwood said.

Growing up as an only child,  Jillian normally ate healthily.  However, she would sneak large amounts of unhealthy foods in-between healthy meals.  As a teenager, Jillianwas aware of her weight gain.  Activities with friends that were supposed to be enjoyable became horrible experiences.

Simple events such as cookouts were stressful because she worried about breaking lawn chairs. She was even turned down for roller coaster rides at amusement parks because she was told that she weighed too much.

It wasn’t until she paid a visit to her doctor that she finally received the wakeup call that would ultimately change her life forever.  At her highest weight of over 400 pounds, her doctor told her that if she didn’t lose weight soon, there was no way she would live to see the age of forty — and that thirty was looking grim, as well.  She was told that a bariatric surgery, during which her intestines would be operated on in such a way that could eventually make weight loss possible, was the only solution.

Although angry at first, Jillian eventually agreed and decided to go with the surgery.

After a difficult recovery, and a liquid diet that progressed to a healthy solid diet, Jillian now feels better than ever at the reasonable weight of 184 pounds.

She eats healthier foods now, although she is required to consume protein shakes and a lot of extra vitamins because the surgery caused a high malabsorption rate, making it difficult for her body to absorb vital nutrients from foods.

But today she can also go places without worrying about people staring at her, and she doesn’t need to think twice about where she is going to sit.  Bariatric surgery truly saved her life.  And now she confidently expects to live far beyond forty years old.