I'm a 49 year old married woman with two sons (17 and 18). I have been struggling with my weight for almost my whole life. In 2017 I was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2 and my home doctor suggested gastric bypass surgery. I went along with her advice and lost about 50 kg in 9 months. We are now about 7 years further from my GBP surgery and I can tell a lot about the process, what it means to live with obesity and what it's like to live in a smaller body but still having obesity. Since 2019 I'm a patient representative for the NVOO (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Overgewicht en Obesitas).  Since 2024 I'm the co-chair of this association. From my own and our members experiences I can participate and contribute in discussions about Obesity. I'm also a member of the ECPO (European Community of People living with Obesity) and visit a lot of congresses throughout Europe to participate in this topic.

In the meantime, it has been 5 years since my operation and from that perspective I can talk very well about what it has done to me, how I have experienced the stigma and I will also like to share this experience(s) on behalf of the patients in various conversations, discussions, media, conferences, etc.

In the upcoming years I will continue putting my heart and soul into this job of changing the European opinion on Obesity and we are aiming to work towards a world without stigma on Obesity in which people with Obesity are able to get the treatment they need and deserve!