At 46 years old, mother to a nearly two-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, Doctor Ana Luiza Vilela declares: “After almost dying, I discovered my life’s purpose, which is to care for people.” The doctor, trained in General Surgery and Gastroenterology at Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo, now dedicates her life to practicing integrative medicine through Nutrition Science. These were not her initial plans, but everything changed when she was young and overweight.
The struggle with her weight has always been a part of her life, starting in childhood. Ana recalls her first visit to an endocrinologist at age 5, and from then on, food and her body became adversaries that never seemed to reconcile. “Having struggled with obesity since childhood, I know what my patients go through, and I’ve put all of that experience into improving their quality of life. I still remember my first medical appointment, followed by countless others that never produced results. I tried everything but couldn’t lose weight. It was only after nearly dying that I took the process seriously and lost 60 kilos through dietary reeducation,” she recounts.
The decision for surgery seemed to be the right one. “After reaching 125 kilos and battling depression and panic disorder, I opted for bariatric surgery, and I truly had indications for the procedure: high BMI and associated comorbidities like hypertension, pre-diabetes, and joint problems, alongside psychological disorders,” she recalls.
Little did she know that, following an internal hemorrhage, she would face sequelae and many complications during her last year of university and at just 26 years old. “During the procedure, the esophageal wall was torn, and since the organ has very large arteries, I started bleeding internally, but no one noticed. I woke up vomiting blood and only survived because I was at a good hospital with a competent medical team.”
Who would have thought this near tragedy would change the doctor’s course? She was specializing in bariatric surgery but decided to pursue training in Nutrition Science to help people lose weight more healthily.
In their effort to stop the hemorrhage, the doctors attempted to undo the surgery, with Ana remaining in an induced coma for three days and 20 more days in the ICU without being able to eat. “I ended up with the downside of bariatric surgery—missing parts of my stomach, duodenum, and intestine—but without the benefit. Interestingly, during this period, I had already been accepted into the residency program in general surgery with a focus on bariatrics, at the same place where I had been operated on.”
From storm to achievement: care for over 10,000 patients. A specialist in Nutrition Science at Instituto Garrido Endocrinologia and Hospital das Clínicas da USP and in Clinical and Metabolic Nutrition at GANEP, the doctor currently practices in her own clinic as a specialist in weight loss and longevity. “I have cared for over 10,000 patients, resulting in a collective weight loss of 60 tons, transforming their lives with health. In times of shortcuts to achieving ideal weight, caution is necessary.”
Vilela carefully compares the expectations she had for surgery to the unbridled trends of using weight-loss pens. “I practice integrative medicine, understanding that each patient is unique. In my case, I reduced carbohydrate intake without cutting it completely and cut back on sugar. I increased fiber and protein consumption. I eat everything in small amounts, exercise to build muscle mass, and undergo therapy to understand the triggers of compulsive eating. In my opinion, weight-loss pens can help kickstart weight loss but are not the final solution.”
Despite her experiences, the specialist does not condemn bariatric surgery. “In surgical procedures, various complications can occur, and we all know that. In my practice, I have recommended the procedure when there are indications and comorbidities, fully informing the patient of all potential risks. Today, I dedicate part of my care to bariatric patients who need nutritional and professional support for successful interventions,” she comments.
The devoted mother of Joaquim, age 12, achieved another great dream at 45: becoming a mother to a girl. She now balances clinic duties with the mission of raising little Aurora, almost two years old. “If I had the mindset I have today, I think I wouldn’t have undergone surgery. It’s essential to understand that no method is definitive enough—the patient will have to change, whether through surgery or not, with or without pens, to lose weight,” she declares.