Amanda Forster, a 58-year-old business owner from County Durham, has shared her experience with various weight-loss methods, culminating in a successful outcome following gastric bypass surgery. Forster, who runs a flag manufacturing business with her husband Neil and is a mother to three children and grandmother to one, has struggled with obesity for much of her life.
At over 19 stone (approximately 266 pounds) and standing 5 feet 2 inches tall, Forster’s body mass index (BMI) exceeded 50, classifying her as severely obese. She described a persistent, uncontrollable appetite and frequent snacking, which she likened to an addiction. Despite trying numerous diet programs including WeightWatchers, Slimming World, and various appetite suppressants, she was unable to achieve significant or sustained weight loss.
More recently, Forster attempted treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonist injections—a class of drugs often promoted for their appetite-suppressing effects, marketed under brand names such as Mounjaro. She began privately purchasing the medication online, starting with a low dose and increasing it over time. However, after several months of use, she reported no weight loss and noted the medication had no side effects, leading her to conclude she was resistant to its effects.
Five years prior to her surgery, Forster had tried gastric band surgery through the National Health Service (NHS). The band, intended to limit food intake by constricting the upper part of the stomach, failed to produce weight loss, and she was able to consume full meals without satiety. After a year, she had the band removed, believing it was not a suitable approach for her condition.
Her health had begun to decline, with symptoms including breathlessness when climbing stairs, joint pain, and high blood pressure, which heightened her urgency to find an effective solution. In December 2024, encouraged by two friends who had undergone bariatric surgery successfully, Forster consulted with surgeon Zaher Toumi at Spire Washington Hospital. Following evaluation, Mr. Toumi recommended gastric bypass surgery, a procedure that reduces the size of the stomach and reroutes part of the small intestine, leading to hormonal changes that impact appetite and metabolism.
Forster underwent the procedure the same month, at a personal cost of £16,000. The surgery was performed as a day case, with discharge the following day and no reported complications. Post-operative follow-up included close collaboration with a hospital nutritionist and regular consultations with Mr. Toumi. Within two months, she began noticing significant weight loss and, over the course of the year, reduced her weight from 19 stone 4 pounds to 11 stone.
Mr. Toumi explained that the gastric bypass offers advantages over purely mechanical interventions like the gastric band by altering gut hormones that regulate hunger and satiety. He also noted that some patients do not respond to GLP-1 drugs, emphasizing that while these medications are effective for many, they are not universally successful.
Forster reported improved well-being, with increased mobility and reduced breathlessness. She expressed particular satisfaction in being able to wear a size 12 dress for her daughter’s wedding, highlighting the positive impact of the surgery on her quality of life. While acknowledging the appeal of pharmacological treatments, she described surgery as a necessary and ultimately successful route in her case.