New Zealand ` clean, green... (MUSIC PETERS OUT) (GRUNTS) ...and fat. In the last year, nearly 70,000 extra New Zealanders became obese. Now most of us are fat. You are morbidly obese. You know what the word 'morbid' means? It means deathly. Premature death. 65% of adults are dangerously overweight. And South Auckland is the ground zero of our obesity explosion. The Manukau SuperClinic is on the front lines of this epidemic, treating over 1200 patients with controversial weight-loss surgery. We remove about 80%-90% of the volume of the stomach. Not much room... for food. We've now spent two years with the most at-risk patients and the specialist doctors and nurses dedicated to helping them through the highs and the lows of their weight-loss journey. I'm anxious and scared. That's what I feel. But I did this because eating was my safe place. It's where I went. Why are you doing it? For myself. I wanna do it for myself. I can't wait to tell people... to 'stick it up your arse', really. (CHUCKLES) (HEART MONITOR FLAT-LINING) Copyright Able 2018 (GENTLE MUSIC) ...since I cooked for him. 48-year-old Lisa is five months into her weight-loss journey. Having recently battled an episode of depression, she's back on good form. I overate for 28 years and put all this weight on. Oh God. So good. That was no mean feat. That was real dedication. I've had to prove to myself that I can actually get through my head and... override the feelings of wanting to eat and wanting to binge and get relief from food. When I first thought about the surgery, the first thing that came across my mind that it might help my symptoms, my mental health. And then the weight is secondary. But it's getting to the point now that the freedom of losing weight is much more enticing in what it can actually change and do for my life. I'm kind of really excited about that. The more I get a yes, the more it's becoming a realisation that it's gonna happen. Surgery means that Lisa will lose a lot of weight. The past provides a tantalising glimpse of possibility. I'm marvelling at how small I was. (CHUCKLES) I'm in these very skinny jeans ` which I used to wear, jeans, a lot. Don't wear them at all nowadays. It's hard to believe that those legs and those hips were on me. (LAUGHS) The thing I love about this photo, which` usually everyone hates photos of themselves; I'm no exception ` but I love my legs. My legs are amazing in this. (THOUGHTFUL PIANO MUSIC) Husband Chris is trying to get Lisa to see that she still is that beautiful person. Chris has given me` He gave me a piece of clothing for Christmas for next Christmas. And it's a beautiful top that won't go near me at the moment. There's no way. But he gave it to me for Christmas. He said, 'That's for next Christmas, babe, because you'll fit it.' So, this here... is the top he gave me. Look how tiny it is! (LAUGHS) It's tiny. (LAUGHS) And... And it's kind of made me realise that that's probably gonna happen. And he says, 'Not probably; it is. You're going to have the surgery. And if you have the surgery, 'then you're going to fit this.' He believes it. And cos he believes it, I start to believe it. So... ...it's what a good relationship does. Only five months into her weight-loss journey, Lisa has her final weigh-in at the clinic. She needs to have maintained at least 119 kilos. If I've maintained my weight loss, then I will hopefully be on the list for surgery. It'll be good. Mm. Think positive. Hello, Lisa. Hello. So, we'll check in, see where we're up to today. OK. OK, come on through. So, you, Lisa, were with Mr Babor in December. Mm-hm. And he said to you, 'Maintain that weight or lose a bit.' (TENSE MUSIC) You've done that. Yay. LAUGHS: Yeah. So well done, you. Are you still wanting to move forward with surgery? Absolutely. You made my day. All right. You're welcome. Look after yourself Lisa, and well done, you. Thank you. (SQUEALS SOFTLY) Nailed it. Lisa's on the surgery list. After years of battling obesity and mental illness, she's finally got the break she needs. (WARM MUSIC) How are you feeling? BREATHES DEEPLY: Really good. Relieved, more than anything. Just pure relief. (UPBEAT MUSIC) Lisa knows she will be weighed in again on surgery day and isn't taking any chances. She's booked her first PT session since her recent battle with depression. Legs feeling all right now you've been going for a little bit? Yeah, fine. Yeah, good. Can't guarantee what they'll be like when I get off, but... (GIGGLES) Keep it going. Good, last one. Yeah. Good job. (PANTS) Excellent work. And there's nothing like a little moral support to keep the motivation up. Lisa's mum pops in for a visit. This is the one I haven't worn. Ooh, that's nice. I don't know if it's too bright. I think since you've started this, your confidence has come out a bit. So that for me, you know, is a wonderful step in the right direction. She's happy, and she's got a lovely husband ` very good to her. And... her kids adore her, so... You know, she's nearly there. Just get a bit of weight off, and I think we'll have a really happy Lisa. Aww. Aww. * 21-year-old Jackson has been on the clinic books since he was 15. Jackson. Time to go now. See you in about 10 minutes. As one of the heaviest patients, he had his work cut out for him. You've kind of bounced up a little bit since we last saw you. They're still quite hard to feel in there. And with a goal weight-loss of 17 kilos,... We need to get you down to 200, don't we? ...initial enthusiasm... We should do the old power walk from one power pole to the other. ...quickly gave in to fatigue. But a close call with the clinic... Non-attendance, rescheduling... We eventually will discharge you back to your GP. ...made Jackson realise he did care. Attitude's changed towards it. It'd be life-changing. And with a massive final push,... The nerves are kicking in now too. Am I gonna make it? Or am I not gonna make it? (GROANS) Jackson achieved his goal. You made it, eh? Yeah, I made it, bro. Wicked. Now, nine weeks after surgery,... Jackson is back in the kitchen. WOMAN: What's for lunch? Chicken salad. (LAUGHS) A bit of a change from butter chicken. Yeah. What's your maximum capacity now? A piece of chicken. Wow. (LAUGHS) Is it weird? Um, nah. I got used to it pretty fast. Yeah, that's it. Tell me how the surgery has changed your life. Whoa. You have, like, three bits. (LAUGHS) Your eyes are still a little bit bigger than your stomach. Yeah. I'm full. So, two mouthfuls, and you're done? Yeah. And... taste of food? Yeah, the taste of food is different and stuff. Being around some food is kind of making me sick a little bit. Yeah, the smell of fast food... It smells yuck. (CHUCKLES) (SWEET PIANO MUSIC) Wake up really early. I've gotten into a routine of waking up and going to bed early. Do you feel you're still a little bit in shock? Bit` Oh... I was slowly losing weight. But, yeah, I think it was good for me to have this operation. I look in the mirror and look at myself and look like I've changed heaps. Jackson's weight loss has been epic. Throughout his ups and downs, he's had the support of his family and the SuperClinic. It's almost three months after surgery, and Jackson's back for a final check-up. Good morning, Jackson. How are you? Hey. Good. Step you on the scales. You're lighter than what you were when you were 15. Jackson has lost a whopping 50 kilos in only three months. Are you noticing a bit of the difference already? Yeah. More energy? I'm gonna get you in front of Mr Babor, because he's gonna be delighted to see. Jackson. How are you going? I'm good. Nice to see you. So, do you feel you've, like,... turned the corner? You've got through the hard times? Yeah. I struggled a little bit at first. But nah, it's sweet-as now. Are you kind of pleased that you've come down this path now? Yeah, yeah. Struggled for ages but got there. I'm really` I'm just so rapt. Jackson's journey has been long. As one of the largest patients at the clinic, he just needed time. At only 21 years old and already 50 kilos lighter, his future is looking bright. The rest is up to him. (GENTLE PIANO) Everyone wants to look ahead to a healthy life. Lisa has battled her body and her mind and come out shining. Today, six months into her weight-loss journey, she will get her surgery. (WARM PIANO MUSIC) But despite having felt upbeat over the last couple of months, Lisa is, naturally, anxious about what's to come. So, how were you feeling this morning when you woke up? Scared. Scared? Yeah. Did you want to pull out? Yeah. Your biggest hope is that they're gonna cancel. Yeah. (LAUGHS) Go in there and say, 'Sorry,' and go home. It's gonna be easy. Yeah. That's cos you're not doing it. (CHUCKLES) OK. We're ready to go along to the pre-op area now. Thank you. (APPREHENSIVE PIANO MUSIC) I have a perfectly fine stomach, and I'm going to cut it all away. (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) It's so drastic. Nothing else has worked. Nothing else has worked permanently. Does this feel like your anxiety? Yeah. Yeah it is. It's my own... my own little demon coming out and annoying me. Um... So, yeah. I'm just trying to quash it... and make it go away. What's your brain telling you? Run. (GENTLE PIANO MUSIC) Don't start crying. You'll make me cry. Why are you crying? I don't know. Just being a baby. (SNIFFS) (MUSIC CONTINUES) What are you gonna do when you're slimmer? Anything you want to do, a big goal? (SNIFFS) Shop at Glasson's. Just shop at a normal shop, not a fat shop. You definitely will be able to. (SOFT PIANO MUSIC) Hello. I'm Will, one of the surgical registrars. Hi. Nice to meet you. Yeah. I'm Chris. Hi, how are you? Nice to meet you. You all ready to go? (SIGHS) (PIANO MUSIC FADES) Yeah. (OPTIMISTIC MUSIC) After a touch of stage fright, Lisa is happily off to theatre. She's proven she has both the dedication and the resilience to do well post-surgery. (MUSIC CONTINUES) * (PENSIVE MUSIC) At only 18 years old, Lauren is not your usual weight-loss surgery patient. Chicken, cranberry and camembert pie. That was my favourite. As the youngest on the surgery list, she's part of a steep increase in Kiwi child obesity. Home-made burgers are the best. She was determined to change... but found it hard to motivate herself. So, what do you think you should do for exercise? Anything you want to do? No. After a helping hand from the clinic... See, I have no doubt that you could be really focused and diet and lose lots of weight. ...and support from Mum,... I'm ready to take on the challenge with her. You've nailed it. ...Lauren's hard work has paid off. (GIGGLES) Well done. (GENTLE MUSIC) After a two-week wait, it's surgery day. Today's long-awaited operation is beginning to seem all too real. You'll be fine. (SOBS GENTLY) We'll be there when you wake up. OK? Mm. Mm-hm. Love you. (SNIFFS) All right? Yep. We're all a little bit on tenterhooks, I think. But once we're through, we'll be good. (KNOCKS) That's nice. Yep. You all right? Yep. See ya. (KISSES) Love ya. You'll be fine, all right? Sweet dreams. You're gonna need to sleep. For surgeon Richard Babor, Lauren is one of the youngest patients he's ever operated on. She's done extremely well pre-operatively ` lost quite a lot of weight. It's everything we've hoped for ` which is kind of what we expected given her maturity, you know? She's very mature for her age. (MONITOR BEEPS) Top lights off, camera lights on, white balance. Focus it. (TENSE MUSIC) Despite her maturity, she's still only 18. Will she struggle post-surgery? Yeah. Her challenge is gonna be around managing her social, sort of, setting, isn't it? I guess. I mean, some adolescents buy takeaways late at night. But not everybody does that. Would you like to do more young people? And do you think we should do them younger than 18? I'd prefer not to. I'd prefer young people to have a healthy diet and not to be obese. But the ones who already are and then who have got metabolic complications of obesity, this is the best thing to help them not have a miserable life, you know? Lauren will wake up knowing that she can look forward to drastic weight loss in the coming months. At only 18, she may have just averted future diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. (CURIOUS MUSIC) (HORNS BLARE) William and Elizabeth have been weight loss buddies for over 15 years. I'm Speedy Gonzales. Third time. It's go-time. Hospital worker Elizabeth weighed in at 145 kilos. You like food, don't you? I think I'm a foodaholic. William was also 145 kilos. People have a habit of giving you nicknames. I'm 'Big Bill'. But there story changed when, at 69 years old, William qualified for weight-loss surgery. Well done, you, for the hard work. Yeah. Thank you. We ought to exercise more, you know? Not to be outdone, Elizabeth was close behind him. My grandchildren ` I wanna be able to see them graduate from university and... Yeah. And just know that they're OK, you know? After a mega effort, both had a successful surgery. I think it went really well. It was very straightforward; she lost a lot of weight before surgery. And kind of a routine operation. And... she's been good, yeah. Six months ago, William's goal was to climb Mangere Mountain. But it got the better of him. Phew. I think we'll call it quits there. Now he's back with Elizabeth, and they're putting their surgeries to the test. Can their slimmer selves settle an old grievance with the mountain? About six months ago, you both said that you wanted to conquer this mountain. Do you think we can do it today? I'll get there eventually. He'll get there before the sun sets. (LAUGHS) Lisa, I have a feeling this is turning into a competition. Yeah. Ladies first, all the time. Duty before age. (CURIOUS, EXPECTANT MUSIC) Keep going. You all right? Yeah. How are you feeling? Puffed. (LAUGHS WEARILY) We at the top? Or is there some more? Yeah. Nah, that's it. (SOFT PIANO MUSIC) I never thought I'd get up here, honestly. I used to park down there and watch them walking up. I used to think that they were amazing. But now I know I'm amazing, cos I'm up here. Between them, William and Elizabeth have lost over 100 kilos. Yay! They can look forward to a healthy, happy retirement. Captions by John Gibbs. Edited by Alex Walker.