Alex Athienitou, a 38-year-old mother of two from Wanstead, East London, underwent gastric sleeve surgery after struggling with significant weight gain linked to comfort eating during maternity leave and the COVID-19 lockdown. At her heaviest, Athienitou weighed 19 stone, far exceeding the recommended daily calorie intake for women. She attributes much of her weight gain to frequent KFC takeaways during her children’s naptime, combined with late-night wine consumption.

Athienitou recalls consuming up to 3,000 calories per day, including multiple visits to KFC each week, often opting for high-calorie items such as boneless banquets accompanied by fries and gravy. The habit developed during a stressful period marked by postnatal depression and prolonged periods at home alone while her husband, Michael, a surveyor and key worker, was at work. The comfort eating and snacking were mechanisms to cope with the demands of caring for two young children during lockdown.

A year into maternity leave, after noticing her size 22 clothes were tight, Athienitou weighed herself and was shocked by the results, prompting her to consider long-term solutions. Despite previous attempts with diets like WeightWatchers and Atkins, she found they were ineffective for her. Eventually, she opted for gastric sleeve surgery, a procedure that reduces stomach size to limit food intake.

Her BMI was slightly below the threshold for NHS surgery, and the local waiting list was estimated at three years, leading her to pursue the operation privately at a central London hospital. The £10,000 cost was covered by her mother-in-law, relieving financial pressure. The surgery was carried out in October 2020, followed by a recovery period that involved a liquid and soft food diet, with her husband assisting with childcare during her limited mobility.

Since the operation, Athienitou has lost a total of 8 stone 10 pounds, now weighing 10 stone 4 pounds and fitting into size 8 clothing. She reports a transformed relationship with food, replacing takeaways with home-cooked meals rich in protein and has eliminated previous habits such as nightly wine. Six years after surgery, she remains abstinent from alcohol, following medical advice to avoid substituting one addiction for another.

Building on her journey, Athienitou embraced Pilates and qualified as an instructor in July 2023. She also underwent reconstructive procedures including a tummy tuck with muscle repair and a breast lift in March 2022, followed by an arm lift later that year, citing health and hygiene concerns related to excess skin. These procedures cost approximately £22,000 and were self-funded through lifestyle changes such as cancelling holidays and avoiding previous spending on takeaways.

Athienitou shares her experiences online as a health content creator, focusing on nutrition, exercise, and wellness. Despite encountering criticism within bariatric surgery communities where some label patients as “cheats,” she emphasizes the positive impact the surgery has had on her life and her commitment to modeling a healthy lifestyle for her children.