Weighing your health South Jersey black people trying to fight chronic diseases South Jersey black people trying to fight chronic diseases

The leading causes of death for 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control were:

Heart disease (where high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity contribute to the risk, according the American Health Association).

Cancer

Stroke

Eugene Allen and John Bettis know what it feels like to struggle with weight issues.

Bettis, 71, has weighed as much as 270 pounds. He has had diabetes since 1995. His father died from diabetes at age 39 in 1962. Allen, 60, weighed as much as 334 pounds before having weight-loss surgery last year.

"When I first came to AtlantiCare, I really believed my life was over," said Allen, of Egg Harbor Township. "I didn't think I had a chance of getting better."

The health effects associated with obesity include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.

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It is crucial all year to emphasize exercise and healthy eating, but it is especially important to stress this during Black History Month because black residents of this state have the highest prevalence of obesity among adults, according to a New Jersey Department of Health report.

Bettis, of Pleasantville, is working with Dr. Barbara Greenling, a member of the Reliance Medical Group who has focused on diabetes.

"Diabetes affects everyone, irregardless of race, ethnicity, young or old," Greenling said. "For all three diseases - diabetes, hypertension and (high) cholesterol - diet and exercise is the number one lifestyle modification."

If a woman's or man's waist size is more than 35 or 40 inches respectively and the person's body mass index is more than 30, that individual is at a higher risk to come down with diabetes, Greenling said.

"Diabetes is a challenge because we are asking you to be different. We are asking you to change how you eat from your cultural background, to your work background, to how you live your life. It is one of the hardest things to do," Greenling said.

Ninety-five percent of the care of Bettis' diabetes is his responsibility, but Greenling said they have to be on the same page.

Bettis has had diabetes for the past 19 years. There have been intervals when it has been under control and other times not.

There have been periods when Bettis stopped exercising. He was working 12 hours a day. He was eating late and filling his stomach with such foods as spare ribs, fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese and collared greens. He is a social man, who likes to eat when he attend events for the American Legion or the Masonic Lodge.

Bettis has been told he has to exercise regularly. He has been trying to watch what he eats. He will have toast or cereal for breakfast with coffee or juice and a light lunch.

"We (he and his wife) fight to take the portions down. I want a half a baked potato versus a whole baked potato," Bettis said.

Allen, a retired chef, weighed 420 pounds when he first came to the AtlantiCare Special Care Center in Atlantic City.

"I had a pulmonary embolism in the past. I wasn't working out as much as I wanted to because I didn't like it and quite simply, I physically couldn't. I had high cholesterol and sleep apnea," Allen said.

The Special Care Center team for Allen was Dr. Ines Digenio. the medical director, and Bibi Ramos, the health coach. They helped him lose about 100 pounds and lower his blood pressure.

Allen had made lifestyle changes, but by 2015, he hit a plateau of about 336 pounds. He wanted to know what else he could do. Digenio recommended considering weight loss surgery through AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center'sCenter for Surgical Weight Loss and Wellness.

Dr. Alexander Onopchenko, the medical director at the Center for Surgical Weight Loss & Wellness, performed the weight loss surgery in February 2016.

Allen had lost 12 pounds by his first post-operative office visit.

"He made all his follow-up appointments," Onopchenko said. "In the first six weeks, he had lost 23 percent of his excess body weight. By Aug. 12, he had lost a total of 85 pounds - which was 53 percent of his excess body weight."

As of this month, Allen had brought his weight down to 232 pounds.

Ten years ago, Allen said he was not happy with his weight. He was sickly and could not work out much, but now, he is much better.

"I try to show people that it is important whether you have weight loss surgery or not that you eat well and exercise," said Allen, who added he shares this message with his children and his two grandchildren.

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