Lifestyle Change Patient Stories

The COVID-19 pandemic made it easy for Frank and Cindy Lucente to ease up on healthy behaviors, but by November 2021, they were both ready to make a change. A year and a half after starting to work with UPMC Bariatric Services at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, they’ve each lost more than 20 percent of their starting weight and are enjoying a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Read Frank and Cindy Lucente's story

In 2021, Karen says, she got lazy, stopped eating right, and got quite heavy, reaching her maximum weight of 230. In her job she spends her days advising patients on how to modify their risk factors prior to surgery – like obesity – to improve surgical outcomes. She finally decided to listen to her own advice.

Read Karen Bright's story

After Zoey Bright’s weight started affecting her performance as a musical theater major and grief at her grandmother’s death led her to emotional eating, Zoey decided to make a change.

Read Zoey Bright's story

Wendy Gibson is a driven woman, focused on achieving a singular goal: her good health. With guidance and support from the UPMC Comprehensive Weight Loss Program, she has changed her lifestyle and dropped nearly 100 pounds. That’s in addition to the 100 pounds she previously lost with the help of a nutritionist — for a total weight loss of almost 200 pounds.

Read Wendy Gibson's story

Debbie Stine travels around the world as a consultant and policy analyst. But with increasing health issues and her weight topping 300 pounds, the going got tougher and tougher. A year after turning to the UPMC Comprehensive Weight Loss program for help, she’s lost nearly 100 pounds and is enjoying a healthier, more active life.

Read Debbie Stine's story