as part of youth obesity programme
Mele Raass is counting down to life-changing bariatric surgery.
The 17 year-old Ōtara resident is one of a group of 20 young people chosen to undergo the surgery as part of a project targeting adolescent obesity. To qualify, patients have to be under 18 years of age and have a body mass index (BMI) of over 35.
It will see half her stomach removed to prevent developing diabetes - and end a lifelong weight battle.
It's part of a programme from Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa (DFA), which has partnered with two charities to fund it, the Perpetual Guardian Trust and the Freemasons Foundation.
Link to video and article: Seventeen-year-old to have bariatric surgery as part of youth obesity programme | Stuff.co.nz
