HEALTH
WEIGHT LOSS WARRIORS FOR 20 YEARS, FELICITY COHEN AND HER TEAM OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AT WEIGHTLOSS SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA (WLSA) HAVE PIONEERED A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SUPPORTING CLIENTS ON THEIR PATH TO WELL-BEING.
As Felicity explains “Weight Loss or Bariatric Surgery is more than a medical procedure. It’s about addressing chronic disease and making the commitment to transform your life, turning your life around in in doing so, avoiding a range of illnesses. Morbid obesity is known significantly increase the risk of 12 known cancers, Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks and many more medical comorbidities. “Our team extends beyond bariatric surgeons to dietitians, psychologists, nurses and support staff to assist patients on their weight loss journey. We also offer lifestyle modification programs inclusive of mindfulness and meditation, or learning how to standup paddleboard and how to cook delicious food post surgery. It’s a multifaceted approach to health.” As well as reducing a patient’s risks of contracting life-threatening illnesses, 86 GOLD COAST • PANACHE Magazine
bariatric surgery reduces the strain on the health system, effectively saving the Government many millions of dollars. “As a private business addressing the chronic disease of obesity, we are very proud of our patient community’s successes, and of our contribution to alleviating the burden on the health system.” The next major innovation for WLSA is the introduction of the podcast “Wellness Warriors”, which will draw on the experiences and personal stories that have impacted Felicity and her business over the past two decades. “We have so many amazing stories from the patients, allied health professionals and others and those aligned to our vision of creating better healthy outcomes for all people,” says Felicity. “I have interviewed many of our former patients, some from 18 years ago, to share how their surgery changed their
lives and influenced their families and others around them. For many, it’s a multi-generational story with huge impact on children and grandchildren.” “One of our clients has had many years of success after having gastric band surgery 18 years ago. Medical devices have advanced considerably since then, but many thousands of people enjoyed positive outcomes over many years from the band, including this client who did very well. “At 53, she climbed the Great Wall of China. She undertook the 10km run at the Noosa Triathlon as part of the WLSA-sponsored team, running alongside her surgeon and anaesthetist. The really compelling part is that her decision to transform her life has impacted her husband, children and grandchildren as well – all of them making better choices about their own health and nutrition.”
