Couple from East Midlands lose large amounts of weight after £20,000 'his and hers' gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey
Ellie and Rhys Jefferies, who say they struggled with disordered eating since childhood, shared their weight-loss journey on TikTok after paying for surgeries with their savings
A couple from the East Midlands said they have transformed their health after travelling to Turkey for weight-loss surgery, spending about £20,000 on matching gastric sleeve operations they described as "life-saving."
Ellie, 26, and her fiancé, Rhys Jefferies, 30, told reporters they had been overweight since childhood and struggled with disordered eating and regular bingeing on unhealthy foods. The pair said their weight affected everyday tasks and even shopping for clothes, and that Rhys's father's death prompted them to reconsider their health.
Ellie and Rhys said they used their savings, previously intended for a wedding and a new home, to pay for the procedures. The couple said trying to lose weight through dieting had not worked for them: "We had been addicted to food for so long, and trying to diet and eat on a calorie deficit just wasn't possible—we were too far gone," Ellie said. They said the decision followed a period of reflection after Rhys's father died and a desire to avoid continuing to struggle with daily activities such as tying shoelaces.
The Jefferies have documented portions of their journey on TikTok, where videos of their progress have attracted hundreds of thousands of views. According to the couple, prior to surgery Ellie weighed 23 stone and Rhys weighed 26 stone. They said their post-surgery weights are now 11 stone for Ellie and 14 stone 5 pounds for Rhys.
Gastric sleeve surgery, the procedure the couple said they received, reduces the size of the stomach and is one of several surgical options designed to support significant weight loss in people with obesity. The couple characterized their operations as essential to their recovery from long-standing disordered eating and obesity.
The Jefferies' account highlights choices some people make to travel abroad for medical procedures, using personal funds when they consider such interventions necessary for their health and well-being.
The couple did not provide medical records to corroborate their reported weights, and medical professionals caution that outcomes and risks for weight-loss surgery vary by individual. The Jefferies told reporters they consider the change "life-saving" and continue to share updates on social media as they adapt to life after surgery.