Edgar Hernandez, a 16-year-old, fought diabetes, obesity and bullies by shedding an astounding 200 pounds. After losing weight, the teenager ran a half-marathon to celebrate his new-found health.
At that age, Hernandez weighed 370 pounds and could not even stand to look at himself. He was frequently tormented by bullies and was seeing a therapist, trying to deal with depression. That's when doctors told the young man he was diagnosed as per-diabetic.
Both of his parents suffered from type 2 diabetes, which developed while they were in their 40's. Several other family members also experienced challenges with weight. The diagnosis classifying him as per-diabetic sparked the young man to change his life.
"I was a bullied teenager and most of my life, I spent hiding and eating my problems away. I couldn't stand being in public because of the horrid days I spent being made fun of for my weight... My parents tried to get me to do sports and help me stay somewhat fit, but I never gave it a try. As I got older, my depression and eating habits grew too. I could not stop eating my problems away," Hernandez said.
Starting a healthier eating and exercise routine had its challenges. When the teenager first started jogging, he only completed half a mile before vomiting. Instead of riding to school, Hernandez started to walk.
"It was time to stop blaming others for my choices and make a choice to take responsibility," Hernandez wrote in his report.
Fueled by a desire to become healthier, the young man began to eat better, and consumed smaller portions when he ate.
The bullying "would all begin in the lunch room when I would sit down to eat, there was always a group of kids who would throw food at me and ask me if I was going to eat it," Hernandez remembered.
Now, Edgar Hernandez is planning on attending college at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where he will major in exercise science. He also wants to meet with President and Michelle Obama to discuss how young people can stay healthy.
The half marathon took place on 6 April in St. Louis. This was the first time Hernandez ever competed in such an event.
As he started to lose weight and take part in exercise, the teenager started to feel better, and have more energy. Hernandez now runs a Facebook page, encouraging people to stay healthy, to get that same feeling. The name of the page is Run with Edgar.
