Seven mornings a week, Omar McNeil starts his day swimming laps and lifting weights at the YMCA.

Such a routine was unthinkable just two years ago. At nearly 300 pounds, McNeil’s weight was exacerbating his many other serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, alcohol use disorder and hypertension.

But since undergoing bariatric surgery in June 2024 and committing to major lifestyle changes, McNeil has lost 100 pounds and regained his health. His surgeon, Dr. David Voellinger of Novant Health Bariatric Solutions in Charlotte, calls him “a new person.”

“I’ve got muscles now, it’s unbelievable,” said McNeil, 58. “I never used to wear T-shirts in public because I was ashamed. You don’t have to live like that, but you do have to work.”

The decision to take control

For years, McNeil lived with obesity, a chronic disease that tends to recur and affects nearly half of North and South Carolina residents and about 2 in 5 adults nationwide.

Heavy drinking, combined with a steady diet of fast food and soda, gradually made it harder for McNeil to shower or tie his shoes. Yet while food plays a role in obesity, other factors — including genetics, stress and some medications — also contribute.

McNeil checked all those boxes. At 50, diabetes complications led to the amputation of one of his toes. Then, other toe amputations followed.

“My life was spiraling out of control,” he said. “I didn’t educate myself on diabetic neuropathy. I was totally ignorant about self-care. Before I knew it, I had no toes left.”

Having checked himself into a sober living house, McNeil was ready to try something in addition to church and his recovery program. In 2023, an ad promoting Novant Health’s bariatric services caught his attention.

“If I could beat alcohol,” he thought, “maybe I can turn some other things around.”

A tool, not a shortcut

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss and management. Along with nonsurgical weight-loss treatment, bariatric surgery can improve or even resolve obesity-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

In December 2023, McNeil met with Voellinger to discuss options. McNeil qualified for a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a minimally invasive procedure that removes part of the stomach to help control hunger.

Surgery would help McNeil lose weight and keep it off long-term as long as he committed to healthier eating, consistent cardio exercise and resistance training to prevent muscle loss.

“Surgery is just a tool to help the patient develop a healthier lifestyle,” Voellinger said. “At the end of the day, this is not just about weight. It’s about wellness.”

Before surgery, candidates must be physically and emotionally prepared for the lifestyle changes that will follow. The process typically begins with a six-month program focused on improving nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management and behavior, while treating conditions such as diabetes and quitting alcohol and tobacco.

A sleeve gastrectomy procedure typically takes less than an hour. Most patients spend one night in the hospital, recover at home for about a week and follow a liquid diet for two weeks before transitioning to fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.

‘There’s life after obesity’

For more than two years, McNeil has been all-in on fitness and healthy living.

“I was in the YMCA so much that they said, ‘Do you want a job?’ So I work for the YMCA now, in the fitness center,” he said. “People think you get the surgery, and voilà. No, you’ve got to get to the gym and make yourself uncomfortable.”

McNeil’s daily dedication has helped him to sleep without a CPAP machine and stop taking insulin and blood pressure medication. After years of relying on a wheelchair, then a walker and a cane following amputations, he now walks — and even runs — with the help of prosthetic feet.

“I jump out of bed in the morning now,” McNeil said. “Obesity is a prison. Live or die — it’s up to you.”

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