People seek to lose weight for a variety of reasons, from wanting to fit into a favorite outfit again to lowering their risk for diabetes to relieving joint pain. For Dan Shaw, his weight-loss journey is truly from the heart.

Dan’s 4-year-old son, Bear Patrick, has Stage 4 kidney disease and will soon need an organ transplant. But at 326 pounds, Dan was told his body mass index (BMI) was too high to be Bear’s donor.

“The best thing is to have a living donor, possibly from one of his parents,” said Dan, of Sicklerville. “I am determined to get my BMI where it needs to be for me to be a potential donor.”

Sustainable Weight Loss
Bear was diagnosed with kidney disease shortly after he was born in 2020. Told that a transplant would eventually be necessary, his family began seeking donors.

A federal corrections officer and former football player, Dan has struggled to lose and maintain a healthy weight, fluctuating between 315 and 370 pounds. After being told he needed to slim down for Bear, he tried various diets.

“I would lose a little bit, and then the weight would come back with a vengeance,” he said.

In December 2023, Dan went to see Gaurav Sharma, MD, FACS, FASMBS, medical director of Virtua’s Complete Weight Management Program. He wasn’t interested in bariatric surgery, and thought the new weight-loss medications could help.

“Medical weight loss is an option for people who do not want or do not qualify for bariatric surgery,” said Dr. Sharma. “As part of their journey to better health, patients have access to our behavioral health specialist, dietitians, and ongoing support and resources.”

Feel Full Sooner
Virtua offers multiple FDA-approved weight-loss medications that, along with healthy eating and exercise, can help people meet their goals. GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP drugs mimic natural gut hormones that regulate blood sugar and tell your brain you’re full, so you eat less. They include:

• Zepbound (tirzepatide)
• Wegovy (semaglutide)
• Saxenda (liraglutide)
• Phentermine

Dr. Sharma recommended Dan try Zepbound, which can help people lose up to 20% of their body weight.

“Zepbound has changed everything for me,” said Dan. “I don’t feel as hungry. I never used to feel full after a meal. Now, there’s no need to stuff my face. No seconds, no late-night snacks.”

Program dietitians developed meal plans to accommodate Dan’s intense weightlifting workouts, his work schedule, and frequent trips to his daughter’s ice hockey games and local sporting events.

“I’d go to Phillies games and crush a cheesesteak,” he said. “Now I split it. I’m full.”

Now down to 249, Dan says he hopes to lose another 30 pounds so he can donate his kidney to Bear.

“I feel great. I can do so much more now,” he explained. “I am committed to this journey because I know that my weight loss and healthier lifestyle will not only help me, but will also help my son. My weight loss will improve both of our lives.”

Schedule a Complete Weight Management Program Consultation
From bariatric surgery to the latest FDA-approved medications, Virtua’s Complete Weight Management Program can help you achieve your weight-loss goals. Request a consultation so you can gain the life you want.