Bad Mental Health Led Me to 25 Stone, But an NHS Bypass Saved My Life

A Journey of Transformation

With a diet dominated by ultra-processed, beige foods, peppered with chocolate biscuits and crisps, Katie Newell was eating herself to death. The 38-year-old from Liverpool began each day with a large bowl of sugary cereal and heavily buttered toast, followed by a meal from McDonald's or Greggs for lunch, and a substantial evening meal.

Newell described her emotional state: "I hated myself. I wouldn't be in photos or videos. I avoided mirrors. I felt completely worthless." At her heaviest, she weighed an alarming 25 stone (158kg/350lbs) and had to wear UK size 28/30 clothes that resembled tents. She admitted she was dangerously unwell, unable to walk properly and pre-diabetic.

Her weight gain was fueled by a combination of mental and physical health conditions, along with medications that caused weight gain. Newell has Loin Pain-Haematuria Syndrome (LPHS), a rare condition affecting only one in a million people, characterized by severe flank pain and blood in the urine. "I was on medications renowned for weight gain," she said.

She also struggled with emotional eating. "If I was sad, I'd eat. If I was happy, I'd eat more. I was an emotional eater and a secret eater."

Newell was under the supervision of the weight-loss team at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool, who initially prescribed Mounjaro. When funding was withdrawn, doctors recommended surgery instead. Before approval, she attended eight weeks of specialist weight-loss education classes.

"I jumped at the chance," she said. "They taught us everything, the different surgery options, what our diet would be like after, what we could and couldn't do. That included rules like not drinking with meals, and the '3 20 rule'– a 20p-sized bite, chew for 20 seconds, then wait 20 seconds before the next mouthful."

After assessments, a surgeon recommended a One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB), also known as a mini gastric bypass, based on her eating habits and medical history. This procedure involves creating a small pouch from the stomach and connecting it to a portion of the small intestine through a single surgical connection.

This method reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold and decreases calorie absorption by bypassing a significant portion of the small intestine. The surgery was carried out on the NHS in a private hospital in Manchester.

In preparation, Newell completed a strict liver reduction diet for two weeks, over Christmas, alongside pre-op blood tests. The diet is a low-carb, low-calorie diet designed to shrink the liver. The surgery took place on January 18, 2025, lasting around an hour and a half. Recovery was tough, taking about three months before she felt fully healed.

"It was painful for the first two to three weeks," she said. "The air they use to blow up your tummy is uncomfortable, but other than that, it was manageable."

Since her surgery, Newell has lost a remarkable 15 stone in just 12 months, now weighing 11st 6lb. She believes this transformation has saved her life, both physically and mentally, and is incredibly grateful that the NHS funded the procedure.

"It's expensive," she said. "I believe a gastric bypass can cost up to £21,000, which includes the surgery itself and follow-up appointments with dietitians, psychologists, surgeons and nurses for up to three years. I was incredibly fortunate to receive funding from the NHS."

It was during a family holiday to the Lancashire seaside town of Silverdale that Newell's confidence collapsed. Despite being hardened to unkind comments, she struggled with the dirty looks and gawping stares she received from members of the public when she went out to eat or visited a dessert shop.

"I could feel people staring," she said. "I remember being on holiday with my nieces and nephews; we'd just bought ice creams and sat down. An older man looked over at me with disgust, said something to his wife about my size and weight, and then the two of them got up and walked away."

It wasn't only her confidence that was affected; she also noticed her health deteriorating. "I could hardly walk. I became pre-diabetic. I was super depressed. I wouldn't go out. I felt completely worthless."

Since surgery, Newell has faced difficult side effects, including severe vomiting.

"At one point, I was being sick up to 12 times a day," she revealed. "I had camera tests done to check everything, but it was just a side effect of the bypass." Although she still vomits occasionally, she says it's far more manageable now.

Now, after losing nearly 15 stone in just 12 months, Newell says she finally recognizes herself again and is ecstatic to know she no longer is pre-diabetic. She began noticing a change on the scales after just two weeks and noted that some of the aches and pains in her back and hips have gone.

Her diet is now completely different—mostly because the reduced size of her stomach means she "physically can't eat much." She has one small meal a day, and if she eats more, she's sick.

A typical day now includes soup and fruit in the afternoon, and a small evening meal of meat and vegetables. Exercise is limited due to chronic pain, but she walks her dogs when she can.

Katie's Diet Before and Now

Katie's diet before - Breakfast: Sugary cereal and toast - Lunch: McDonald's or Greggs - Dinner: Large evening meal - Snacks: Crisps, chocolate, and biscuits

Katie's diet now - Breakfast: None - Lunch: Soup and fruit in the afternoon - Dinner: Small evening meal of meat and vegetables

"You have to change your whole relationship with food. Whatever method you choose, it's a tool, you still have to work at it."

The transformation has shocked everyone around her, with her proud friends and family commenting that she looks happy. "A lot of people don't even recognize me," she said. "I don't mind having my photo taken anymore and I don't avoid mirrors either."

To anyone keen to start a weight loss journey of their own, Ms Newell advises speaking to their doctor. "There are so many options, gym passes, slimming world, referrals to weight-loss teams, medication, and surgery."

However, there is one downside of weight loss surgery that people rarely speak about. "Nobody prepares you for how often you have to buy new underwear. It's literally every other week. I've spent at least £300 on new underwear."