Natasja Wijling

Board Member & Patient Advocate at Dutch Association for Overweight & Obesity (NVOO)

Speaker

I'm a 51 year old married woman with two sons (19 and 20). I have been struggling with my weight for almost my whole life. In 2017 I was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2 and my GP suggested gastric bypass surgery. I went along with her advice and lost about 50 kg in 9 months. We are now about 9 years further from my GBP surgery and I can tell a lot about the process, want it means to live with obesity and what it's like to live in a smaller body but still having obesity. As well as the continuing story of the struggle with my weight, I regained again.

Since 2019 I'm a board member and patient representative for the NVOO (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Overgewicht en Obesitas). 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 and share the lives experience stories.