41 year old Rob Dempsey proudly shows off his former pants. Size 44 and he claims those were snug, but look at him now. He is down 140 pounds from 308 pounds.
He says, "My kids motivated me to lose my weight. When I was lethargic I couldn't do anything. When I can't get on roller coaster rides with my children that means I need to do something."
Rob says the way he did it was by taking the first step and coming to the YMCA.
He says, "Education for me was a big part of doing what I am doing. To learn how to have an active lifestyle. To learn how to eat right to prevent the way I was going with my health."
It is that model that Greenville Hospital System is staking with their new approach to reduce the rates of chronic illness in the area.. It is called PATH or Partners Achieving Total Health.
Dr. Angelo Sinopoli, Medical Director of GHS's Office of Total Health claims, "The problems we as physicians have is that we evaluate these people at our offices and we tell them you need to improve your lifestyle you need to change your diet you need to exercise but them we don't have a way to help them do that."
Now doctors, with the help of the YMCA, will write a prescription for health for those people on the verge of chronic illness.
They'll walk you through the steps and watch you along the way.
They will guide you to specific trainers at the YMCA and nutrition specialist all while you are being monitored by a doctor for the six week program.
Dr. Sinopoli says having the doctors involved will make it that much more effective. "To have a mechanism to help patients change their lifestyle can significantly decrease the instances of diabetes and we see people who lose weight and their diabetes and blood pressure problems just go away.
For Rob Dempsey this wasn't just a change in his life. He feels like he now has a new life.
He says, "I love the lifestyle that I have now. Because I can play with my kids. I am more productive at work. I have ten years of my life back."
A doctor has to refer you to the PATH program.
It will cost only 50 dollars and the hospital says they will work with anyone who may have trouble paying.
The program will start in January. If you are interested or think you may be at risk for a chronic illness contact your doctor.
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