Canton Man Partners With Mercy On Weight Loss Journey
Five-hundred-pound man drops 100 pounds – and is going for more – with the help of exercise and Mercy Outpatient Nutrition Services

Canton, Ohio: Daniel Sankey Jr. used to weigh more than 500 pounds. Today, with the help of Mercy Medical Center Outpatient Nutrition Services, a regular exercise regimen and a personal desire to get fit, Sankey has lost 100 pounds and is going for more.

Sankey, a 42-year-old Canton native, suffers from severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and uses a tracheotomy tube and a portable ventilator during sleep. Prior to losing weight, Sankey had to be hospitalized frequently because of low blood oxygen levels. After starting nutrition therapy at Mercy and an exercise program with a trainer at the Canton YMCA in 2005, he has not been hospitalized in more than a year. In addition, he no longer needs medications for high blood pressure and other conditions.

Sankey cites his children – ages 6, 8, 17 and 19 – as his biggest motivation. He said, “My mother was very overweight and she died four years ago. When I reached 525 pounds, I took a good look at myself and said, ‘You could die any day. Who’s going to be there to take care of the kids?’ I knew I needed to be healthier for my children. And, I wanted to be able to play with them.”

Beth Matthews, M.S., R.D., L.D., dietitian, helped Sankey learn how to monitor his calorie intake and continues to meet with him monthly. “When I first met Dan, he could hardly walk,” she said. “We did a total diet revamp and encouraged him to incorporate exercise. Now it’s so exciting to see him move and get healthier. We gave him the information and lots of encouragement. He’s done the work.”

At one point, Sankey reached a four-month weight loss plateau. To help him move past it, Beth and his personal trainer, Micki Fontes, made some modifications.

“I’m doing six small meals a day now,” said Sankey. “That, along with an increase in my exercise intensity, got me losing weight again. When things slow down, you don’t give up. You make changes. I’ve done everything the natural way, and I’m glad because when you lose weight fast and don’t change your eating habits, you gain it back.”

Sankey is looking forward to getting down to 350 pounds so he can eliminate the tracheotomy tube. His ultimate goal is to weigh 280 pounds.

When asked what he values most about partnering with Mercy in his weight loss journey, Sankey said the fact that Beth is always there for him. He said, “I know Beth and she knows me. She’s always available to help me. Sometimes I think she gets more excited about my weight loss than even I do.”  
                  
Mercy Outpatient Nutrition Services is designed for individuals who need assistance with weight control, cholesterol reduction, diabetes or other nutrition concerns on an outpatient basis. A physician referral is required, and appointments can be made at Mercy Medical Center, the Mercy Health Center of North Canton and Mercy Medical Center of Carroll County.  

For more information about Mercy Outpatient Nutrition Services, call (330) 489-1000,
ext. 1600.