Last autumn, the resident of Vaiguviškės village, Šakiai District, weighed 301 kilograms. His doctor, prof. Gintautas Brimas, told him frankly: unless you lose some weight, you'll die. In Lithuania, male life expectancy is about 74-75 years, while for men of such weight – only half that long. Rolandas was 38.
He could not lose weight by himself and had no money for a surgery, so he went on television asking generous people to spare several thousand litas for his procedure. Last October, Rolandas had a gastric band put on his stomach, marking a new phase in his life.
Excellent health
Rolandas says that his health, compared to what it was before the procedure, is excellent: “I can pick up a penny or a pill from the ground, I clip my own toenails, I can wash myself now. My boobs are hanging like an old lady's, the belly is sliding down, I've got saggy flaps on my arms, my double chin looks like a bison's.”
Last year, Rolandas could only sleep seated. His greatest fear was slipping and falling down – he would not have been able to stand back up without assistance. Now he is happy with the progress he has made since: “My daughter had cleaned the floor, I was walking barefooted, I slipped and fell on the belly with all my weight. The entire family came running, but I stood up by myself.”
Rolandas measures his weight once a month – he goes to a farmer friend for that, since he does not own scales for his weight. And it is not only numbers that show he is getting leaner – it is showing on his clothes too.
40-kilogram loss
Right after the procedure, doctors expected that Rolandas would lose 100 to 120 kilograms within a year, but nine months later, he was only 40 kilograms lighter. “It turned out to be more difficult than it seemed,” the heavyweight sighs.
So that weight loss is faster, the gastric band must be adjusted every several months, reducing stomach volume even further. Rolandas has already had his band tightened three times.
“I've had enough of being overweight,” he admits. He would love to at least not exceed 200 kilograms when he turns forty and later perhaps 150 kilograms, i.e., half of what he weighed before the procedure.
Big boy
Before last autumn, Rolandas had been to hospital many times because of obesity-related conditions, he has been on various diets. Doctors started looking for reasons behind his massive gain of weight back when he was six. “No one did any dieting in the olden days. They would simply say: don't eat meat, potatoes, beetroot, bread. What was I supposed to eat then?”
It is still unclear why he became so obese. His mother tells that newborn Rolandas was insatiable while still in the maternity hospital. When he turned eight, the boy weighed 70 kilograms.
The condition was aggravated by s sudden spell of elephantiasis. Because of the disease Rolandas started moving less, as he felt pain in his swollen legs, could hardly walk. He was gaining weight by the hour.
Five spoons of potatoes for breakfast
Before, Rolandas thought he wasn't eating that much, but after the procedure he can do for the entire day with what he'd eaten in one sitting before.
The man eats everything that other members of the family do, except now he is using normal dishes and not 1.5-litre bowls. For example, his wife Kristina boiled fresh potatoes with dill and sour cream for breakfast. Rolandas had four or five spoons of the dish, chasing it down with a glass of milk. That is all his stomach can handle now.
The man chews his food well and does not do any extra things during meals, like watching TV or reading papers. Rolandas understands that he must change his lifestyle if he wants to lose weight: eat less and exercise more.
Plans of riding a bike
The heavyweight man is planning to buy good tires, make firm wheels, and venture riding a bike. He also wants to borrow a treadmill from his sister and get on it whenever he has a free minute. Not for a jog, just for a walk.
Rolandas knows he has to move as much as possible and he does his best, even though his bulky frame makes his legs and loins ache. “I walk a little, I rest. Or sit down for a few minutes. After that, I can walk for another five to ten minutes,” Rolandas summarizes his current capacity. Even though it doesn't sound like much, it is quite an achievement for a man his weight.
Another good news is that his wife is pregnant. In October, Krisitna should give birth to a baby daughter. The Onusaičiai family already has four children: 18-year-old Rūta, 16-year-old Deividas, 14-year-old Lina and 10-year old Saulius.
Harm like smoking
Rolandas' case is an extreme one. However, any lack of physical activity can have serious implications for one's health and quality of life.
According to a study published in Lancaster magazine, 5.3 million people die from immobility each year – the same number as victims of smoking.
According to 33 scientists who worked on the study, the problem of immobility has reached pandemic proportions, as every third adult does not move enough. The problem particularly affects richer nations.
It is thought that physical passivity increases risk of coronary artery diseases by 45 percent, suffering a brain stroke by 60 percent, primary hypertension by 30 percent, and osteoporosis by 59 percent. There is also higher risk of suffering diabetes and certain kinds of cancer.
Medics suggest that an adult should spend at least 150 minutes (i.e., two and a half hours) per week exercising. It does not have to be jogging or working out in a gym. Exercising can also consist of fast-pace walking, riding a bike, working in a garden.
According to a 2010 survey by the Hygiene Institute of the Healthcare Ministry, over half of Lithuania's residents aged between 15 and 74 put themselves in the high-physical-activity group. The respondents spend about an hour a day walking or cycling. 38 percent of Lithuanians say they do not exercise – close to the European average which stands at 39 percent. People with little physical activity are more likely to be older, female, and with lower education.
