« All NewsBiggest Loser Contestant Will Speak at LMC
Posted by: Jennifer Wilson, Public Relations Manager | May 16, 2011
West Columbia, S.C. – A popular and successful contestant from the TV show “The Biggest Loser” will visit Lexington Medical Center on Tuesday, May 31st at 6:30 p.m. to speak about her experience as an overweight person and the medical conditions that accompanied her weight gain, including sleep apnea. The event is free and open to the public.
Sherry Johnston was a contestant on Season 9 of NBC’s The Biggest Loser Couples with her daughter, Ashley. Sherry began on The Biggest Loser at 218 pounds and lost a total of 99 pounds. During the show, she shared her story of her weight spiraling out of control after the death of her husband and how she wanted to lose weight in order to see her grandchildren grow up.
During her talk at Lexington Medical Center, Johnston will share her personal comments on her experiences competing on The Biggest Loser and take questions from the audience.
One aspect of Johnston’s story is her experience with sleep apnea, a serious condition that is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. While there are many causes for sleep apnea, in some cases, the cause is excessive weight. One of the treatments for sleep apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy, known as CPAP. A CPAP machine and mask increase air pressure in your throat to keep open the airway. During her time on The Biggest Loser ranch, Sherry used a CPAP mask.
Lexington Medical Center treats many sleep apnea cases through its physician practice Carolina Pulmonary and Critical Care, and through Sleep Solutions, the hospital’s sleep lab, nationally accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Clinicians from both will be at the event to answer questions.
The talk with Sherry Johnston is sponsored by Philips Respironics, a company that designs technology to help patients with different diseases and conditions, including prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and health management. Phillips Respironics is also a sponsor of The Biggest Loser on NBC.
News reporters and photographers are welcome at the event. Jennifer Wilson, LMC Public Relations Manager can set up interviews with doctors about medical problems related to obesity with advance notice. Contact Jennifer at 803-939-4512. Reporters will be able to speak with Sherry Johnston before and after her speech.
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 5,200 health care professionals. The network also includes the largest extended care facility in the Carolinas, two occupational health centers and more than 40 physician practices. At its heart is the 414-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center won "Best Hospital" by readers of The State for ten years in a row, "Best Hospital" by readers of the Free Times, "Best Place to Have a Baby" by readers of Palmetto Parent, the "Consumer Choice Award" from the National Research Corporation and the prestigious "Summit Award" from Press Ganey.
