Madam Mary Yeo weighs 96kg but she is determined to win her battle of the bulge to keep chronic diseases in check

When the staff at Geylang Polyclinic said her weight was 96kg, Madam Mary Yeo’s initial reaction was disbelief.

She recalls: “I thought the nurse bluffed me! I thought the weighing machine was out of order. So she took my weight again.”

This happened three weeks ago when the 59-year-old had her weight checked at the polyclinic’s Health Monitoring Station before seeing her doctor as part of her regular appointments since 2008.

Madam Yeo suffers from diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, and she is on medication.

It was only after she had her weight taken for the third time by Dr Shah Mitesh that the truth finally sank in — all her efforts to lose weight over the last nine months had paid off.

“I was very happy. I saw the numbers again with my own eyes and Dr Shah confirmed it!” she says.

The former sales promoter used to weigh 109kg, which was extremely obese for her 152cm frame.

She says: “My favourites were pork dishes, especially bak kut teh!

“I used to sit in front of the TV and ate until I fell asleep.

“Whatever I needed, others would buy for me, so I didn’t have to walk to the shops.”

She knew her lifestyle would lead to chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and that if these were not controlled, they may result in a stroke, heart and kidney problems.

The Whampoa resident says: “Some of my friends kena but I wasn’t scared! I have seen some stroke patients in their 30s or 40s in wheelchairs.

“There is even a dialysis centre near my home.”

An encounter with a young woman last year finally brought Madam Yeo to her senses.

“My friend is younger but so much fatter than me! It’s so difficult to buy clothes”, she recalls.

The episode turned out to be a life-changing moment for the grandmother of five, who was still able to buy clothes that fit her, at a few stores.

She started walking to the shops in her neighbourhood, added vegetables and fruits to her diet and cut down drastically her intake of fatty food.

“Now I just take a very small piece of pork rib,” she says, indicating the size with her little finger.

It was difficult at first, she admits,but family members have been supportive by reminding her to exercise and eat well.

Madam Yeo says: “Now my tummy is not so obvious. My pants feel a bit baggy. I can wear tops that are two sizes smaller.”

She is thankful that a permanent doctor at the polyclinic is managing her condition.

Now she has to shed 10kg in six months, on Dr Shah’s orders. “I will try my best to do it,” she says, with a determined smile.

Never too late

The successful management of chronic diseases depends on the response of the patient, says Dr Shah Mitesh, senior family physician and deputy director of Geylang Polyclinic.

He says: “A patient who is motivated is the most important factor. This allows us to empower the patient to care for himself.”

Dr Shah wants Madam Mary Yeo to lose weight, maintain her target blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and take her medicine. He is happy with her progress.

Regular checks are also essential to her treatment plan, says Dr Shah.

“This allows the doctor to understand the patient’s needs and adjust medications according to patient’s goals. Screening for complications is also done during these appointments to pick up early disease or complications relating to current diseases.”

Patients who miss their appointments or don’t take their medicine may end up with debilitating complications.

Dr Shah says one of his patients suffered a stroke at age 35 and his right arm and leg were paralysed as a result.

“He had not taken the prescribed treatment for hypertension for the last 10 years. He had also been smoking and leading a stressful lifestyle. He finally started taking medicine daily after the stroke and is currently undergoing rehabilitation to improve the strength in his limbs. He has also quit smoking.

“My advice is — it is never too late to change.”