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http://www.theage. com.au/national/ its-been- a-struggle- but-bree- cant-wait- to-add-to- her-brood- 20081115- 67p1.html? page=-1
BREE Campey is not in denial about her size, but it no longer defines
her. After years of struggling to be slim, she has decided that "there
are worse things in life than being fat".
Like many people who battle obesity, she has tried every exercise
regime and diet, losing a few kilograms only to regain them soon
afterwards. Even a job in a gym where she worked out every day made no
impact on her weight. After having two children, the scales hover
around the 110-kilogram mark, where they have stayed for the past five
years.
Now expecting her third child, she is aware of the risks to her baby.
But pregnancy was always going to be problematic for the 29-year-old.
She suffers from polycystic ovarian syndrome, a hormonal imbalance
affecting 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age, that often causes
weight gain.
The fact that Mrs Campey has conceived three times is remarkable, as
the condition often affects fertility. But her size caused problems in
both her previous pregnancies. Doctors were concerned by her high
blood pressure and increased risk of diabetes. While her babies' heart
rates were normal, staff at the Royal Women's Hospital found it
difficult to get good ultrasound views of them, necessitating repeated
hospital visits.
Although Mrs Campey wanted natural births, both her daughter
Mackenzie, 3, and one-year-old son, Ryan, had to be delivered by
caesarean section.
Five months into her third pregnancy and Mrs Campey's weight is still
making life difficult. A recent scan again proved unsuccessful, as the
medical staff were unable to see the baby clearly, forcing her to make
a return trip to the hospital. She says the implications of her size
are a cause for concern, but she does all she can to minimise the risks.
"I don't have a lot of health problems, surprisingly. Some people can
be slightly overweight and have huge health problems, but I've always
been fairly healthy. I eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and I don't
have a lot of junk food. I probably don't do as much exercise as I
should because I don't have much time, but generally I look after
myself," she said.
Mrs Campey, who lives in Caroline Springs with her children, husband
Howard and 14-year-old stepson Tim, will see a dietician at her next
appointment at the Royal Women's Hospital.
While, unusually, she did not gain any excess weight in her previous
pregnancies, she is hoping to get more support to slim down after her
third child is born. She says she wants people to realise that obesity
is not always caused by poor lifestyle choices.
"People shouldn't judge until they know your situation. You need to
have tolerance of all people no matter their age, their race, their
size. People have thyroid conditions, genetic problems so looks can
be deceiving.
"It's especially hard when my brother and sister are not at all fat
and I think, why am I the fat one? Now I just think he has his issues,
she has her issues, I'm just fat. We all have something and who says
that being fat is the worst?"
BREE Campey is not in denial about her size, but it no longer defines
her. After years of struggling to be slim, she has decided that "there
are worse things in life than being fat".
Like many people who battle obesity, she has tried every exercise
regime and diet, losing a few kilograms only to regain them soon
afterwards. Even a job in a gym where she worked out every day made no
impact on her weight. After having two children, the scales hover
around the 110-kilogram mark, where they have stayed for the past five
years.
Now expecting her third child, she is aware of the risks to her baby.
But pregnancy was always going to be problematic for the 29-year-old.
She suffers from polycystic ovarian syndrome, a hormonal imbalance
affecting 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age, that often causes
weight gain.
The fact that Mrs Campey has conceived three times is remarkable, as
the condition often affects fertility. But her size caused problems in
both her previous pregnancies. Doctors were concerned by her high
blood pressure and increased risk of diabetes. While her babies' heart
rates were normal, staff at the Royal Women's Hospital found it
difficult to get good ultrasound views of them, necessitating repeated
hospital visits.
Although Mrs Campey wanted natural births, both her daughter
Mackenzie, 3, and one-year-old son, Ryan, had to be delivered by
caesarean section.
Five months into her third pregnancy and Mrs Campey's weight is still
making life difficult. A recent scan again proved unsuccessful, as the
medical staff were unable to see the baby clearly, forcing her to make
a return trip to the hospital. She says the implications of her size
are a cause for concern, but she does all she can to minimise the risks.
"I don't have a lot of health problems, surprisingly. Some people can
be slightly overweight and have huge health problems, but I've always
been fairly healthy. I eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and I don't
have a lot of junk food. I probably don't do as much exercise as I
should because I don't have much time, but generally I look after
myself," she said.
Mrs Campey, who lives in Caroline Springs with her children, husband
Howard and 14-year-old stepson Tim, will see a dietician at her next
appointment at the Royal Women's Hospital.
While, unusually, she did not gain any excess weight in her previous
pregnancies, she is hoping to get more support to slim down after her
third child is born. She says she wants people to realise that obesity
is not always caused by poor lifestyle choices.
"People shouldn't judge until they know your situation. You need to
have tolerance of all people no matter their age, their race, their
size. People have thyroid conditions, genetic problems so looks can
be deceiving.
"It's especially hard when my brother and sister are not at all fat
and I think, why am I the fat one? Now I just think he has his issues,
she has her issues, I'm just fat. We all have something and who says
that being fat is the worst?"
