Starvation Fears Of Gastric Bypass Mum Who Can't Stop Losing Weight

Starvation Fears Of Gastric Bypass Mum Who Can't Stop Losing Weight

A mum-of-two fears she might starve to death after undergoing drastic gastric bypass surgery.

Tracey McLaughlin, 51, has lost so much weight since she had the surgery that she is terrified she won't stop shrinking.

In an exclusive interview with Closer magazine, 4ft 10in Marina revealed she weighed 19 stone when she had the surgery in December 2010.

She was confined to a wheelchair with crippling arthritis so had the surgery after being told that her health was in danger.

Within a year of having the surgery, Marina lost 10st and was then happy with her weight.

However, she has continued to lose weight rapidly and has shrunk to just 5st 7lbs and has a BMI of 16 – the healthy range is 18.5 to 25.

Marina, from Manchester, is now so weak that she is mainly bedridden and she has been told that if she continues to lose weight she could die. She has to wear clothes meant for 10 to 11-year-old children.

She told Closer: "Having a gastric bypass was the biggest mistake I've ever made. My body is emaciated. I'm terrified I could starve to death."

Marina, whose children Liam and Louise are in their 20s, started to pile on the pounds when she was in her 30s.

After the surgery she dropped quickly to a size 10 and felt healthy so decided she did not want to lose any more weight. However, she continued to lose weight despite eating as much as she could.

She has undergone a CT scan which failed to reveal what the problem is. She will now have more tests to help doctors establish why she has become so thin.

Marina has been told that if she keeps losing weight she may soon have to be placed on a drip to ensure that she gets enough nutrients.

To read the full story, see this week's Closer magazine which is out now.


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