With medical weight management, Thomas is down 140 pounds

"I was convinced I had to have bariatric surgery," says Thomas Lodini, who at 384 pounds sat anxiously in the office of Dr. Jila Kaberi-Otarod back in September of 2015. Dangerously high blood pressure, shortness of breath and years of unsuccessful weight loss attempts led the 58-year-old Western Wayne computer programming teacher to this moment. “I told her I didn’t think I was ready” when it came to surgery and so Dr. Otarod suggested medical weight management instead. By following a protein-rich diet, committing to two brisk walks around the school each day and tracking everything he ate, Thomas is down 140 pounds. “My wife and kids are really excited,” says the father of five and grandfather of 13. “My feet don’t hurt. I have more energy. I’m completely off my blood pressure medication. This has changed my life.” #GeisingerStories