Timing is Everything:

Mark Eldred wanted to lose weight. He tried on his own but unfortunately his weight went up, peaking at 290 pounds.

“That’s when I realized I couldn’t do it on my own,” Mark shared. “I began to look at surgery as a tool that could really help me.”

The Path to Success

Mark, a senior scientist at Zoetis, met with the Bryan Bariatric team to learn more about surgical options. He spent six months preparing for surgery with the program’s dietitian and psychologist, and his surgeon Anthony Tabatabai, DO. In December 2023, he had bariatric surgery.

The results were staggering. He lost 120 pounds. As a type 2 diabetic, he was much less dependent on insulin. He was able to stop taking several medications. His sleep apnea disappeared, and so did the aches and pains in his back and knees.

But the most impactful outcome happened last summer. In July 2024, Mark had open heart surgery. He credits his weight loss and improved health as a huge advantage for his recovery.

“The timing of losing that weight was the best thing that could have happened to me,” said Mark. “It made a huge difference in getting through my heart surgery and my successful recovery.”

Mark wants more people to know about the life-changing benefits he has experienced from his weight loss surgery. While it’s not a complete solution on its own, bariatric surgery is a large piece of the weight-loss puzzle for many people.

“I try to be a resource for others,” he said. “Talking to previous patients was what helped convince me to have weight loss surgery. Hearing how it worked for somebody else can really make a difference.”

Take Your Next Step

If you enjoyed this story, you can read more patient stories, or you can subscribe to our Journeys magazine.

To learn more about weight loss surgery, you can visit the Bryan Bariatric Services website, attend an information session or call 402-481-5490.

To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health, please contact the Bryan Foundation staff by calling 402-481-8605.