A Journey Rooted in Love, Not Shame

Eight years ago, Joval Webbe made a decision that would change her life — not just her weight. After undergoing bariatric surgery at the Johns Hopkins Center for Bariatric Surgery at Sibley Memorial Hospital, she has sustained a 100-pound weight loss and transformed her relationship with her body, food and overall well-being.

Webbe, now 42, reflects on her laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy performed in September 2017 as a pivotal moment leading to a more holistic life. Before surgery and to this day, she works closely with a dietician and other clinicians at Sibley to continue her health journey. Describing her care at Sibley as holistic and collaborative, Webbe credits the Sibley team with helping her unlearn harmful narratives and start her self-care journey “in ways that are rooted in love and truth, not shame or blame,” she says.

Healing That Goes Beyond the Scale

With the support of her care team, including a registered dietician, Webbe began to rebuild her relationship with herself, food and movement. She now feels satisfied with smaller portions, chooses nutrient-rich food, and finds joy in connecting with her body every day.

She says the changes are not just physical, but deeply spiritual and emotional. “For me, this wasn’t just about learning to eat differently — it was about learning to think, work and be different,” she says.

Webbe says she had been overweight since she was a child. At her heaviest, Webbe’s 5-foot- 4½-inch frame carried 265 pounds, and she was managing several related health conditions, including prediabetes, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and hypersomnia.

Webbe tried many approaches to weight loss — sometimes losing 70 or 80 pounds — only to regain the weight.

In 2012, as she approached her 30th birthday, Webbe attended an information session about bariatric surgery led by Katherine Lamond, M.D., fellowship-trained minimally invasive Johns Hopkins surgeon in Washington, D.C., and medical director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Bariatric Surgery at Sibley Memorial Hospital.

Lamond explained that bariatric surgery is not a cosmetic procedure, but rather a medical intervention designed to improve health and quality of life, particularly for individuals with weight-related conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

At the time, Webbe wasn’t ready. “I thought, ‘I don’t need this. I can do it on my own,’” she recalls. Such hesitancy is common, says Lamond. The causes of obesity are complex, and include genetic factors, medications and environmental determinants. But, Webbe clarifies, “I had already shown I could lose weight. What I needed was a long-term, joyful and sustainable solution that honored all of me — spirit, mind and body.”

Ready for the Next Step in Weight Loss Treatment

Several years later, Webbe returned to Sibley, ready to explore surgical options. Her insurance covered bariatric surgery, provided she followed a medical weight management program for three months beforehand. During that time, with support from a registered dietician and the center’s support groups, she lost 35 pounds.

The bariatric center’s clinicians and support groups taught Webbe a mindful approach that she continues to this day, aligning nutrition with her values and culture.

She gained new tools and insights. “They helped me explore why I eat — whether it’s hunger or something emotional — and how to align my nutrition with my personal values and culture,” she says.

The surgery itself required a brief two-night hospital stay. Recovery included a high-protein liquid diet and protein-rich pureed foods, along with multivitamins and hydration.

She gradually returned to movement in a way that felt nourishing — starting with short walks, and eventually incorporating consistent, joyful activity.

“I never felt hungry,” she says. “Even now, I eat slowly and intentionally. My stomach is small — I still only eat about 4 ounces of food at a time.”

Thriving in Body and Spirit

Today, Webbe remains strong and healthy. She is no longer prediabetic. Her hypersomnia has lifted, and the PMOS symptoms have resolved.

“My body requires movement,” she says. “It’s how I clear my mind, how I renew my spirit. This entire process of weight loss, people think it’s about what you eat and how you move, but truly it’s about honoring yourself.”