New Zealand Woman Loses 73kg Through Indian Bariatric Surgery

A 34-year-old Māori mother of four, Faren Ormond, has successfully lost 73 kilograms after undergoing bariatric surgery in India. This journey highlights the challenges many New Zealanders face in accessing affordable weight-loss treatment. At age 33, Ormond weighed 143 kg and reported severe health issues, including persistent pain in her feet, back, and knees. Despite her efforts with various diets and exercise regimens, including fasting and the ketogenic diet, she found no lasting success.

Seeking a solution, Ormond first considered bariatric surgery in 2018 but was told by a surgeon that she was too young and fit to qualify for the procedure in New Zealand. In the country, publicly funded operations are restricted to a limited number of patients aged 18 to 60, while private surgery costs range from $19,000 to $29,000 for a gastric sleeve or bypass.

Medical Tourism as a Solution

Unable to afford local treatment, Ormond turned to her aunt, medical tourism agent Annette Brons from Rotorua. Brons suggested a documentary opportunity that would allow Ormond to share her journey in te reo Māori. This collaboration led Ormond to Kerala, India, where she underwent a two-and-a-half-hour gastric sleeve procedure in November 2023. The total cost for the surgery was approximately $7,500, with return flights adding another $3,500. Ormond indicated that the talent fee from the documentary covered these expenses.

The experience is featured in the eight-part series titled *Pukunati: Lose Weight or Die*, which premiered on Māori+ and Whakaata Māori on September 1. The series documents both Ormond’s transformation and that of Rotorua journalist Roihana Nuri as they navigate their surgical journeys in India.

Now weighing 74 kg, Ormond expressed her desire to set a healthier example for her children and to actively participate in their lives. She acknowledged that without the documentary opportunity, she would have needed to borrow from her parents or use her KiwiSaver funds to finance the procedure.

Addressing Health Inequities

Brons noted that over the past eight years, she has assisted more than 200 New Zealanders, mainly Māori, in accessing surgeries in India. She pointed to long waiting lists and the limitations of virtual consultations as significant barriers to local treatment. While she prefers affordable options within New Zealand, she emphasized that countries like India, Turkey, and Mexico have made procedures financially accessible for many.

Producer and director Ngahuia Wade highlighted the importance of the documentary in addressing Māori health inequities. Statistics indicate that extreme obesity rates among Māori adults are nearly three times higher than those of non-Māori, and more than double among Māori children. Wade stated that sharing these stories in te reo Māori is crucial in tackling what she described as a “life-and-death issue.”

Health New Zealand’s national chief medical officer, Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, acknowledged that some patients seek surgery abroad but cautioned against the associated risks. These include the challenges of long-haul travel shortly after surgery and exposure to healthcare systems with different regulations. She reiterated Health NZ’s commitment to improving access to elective surgeries, including bariatric options, throughout the country.

Ormond’s journey underscores the ongoing struggles many face in obtaining necessary medical care and raises important questions about health equity in New Zealand.