A severely obese man has slammed his local NHS trust for refusing to perform bariatric surgery on him for a second time—and says it's because his ADHD makes him crave sugary foods.
Keren Slater, 48, was given an NHS-funded gastric band in 2006 but claims that it stopped working after just six months.
It was subsequently removed in June 2024, and he hoped that medics would perform a gastric bypass to help him shed some of his 23 stone bulk.
However, he claims that he has been blocked from having the life-changing operation because doctors don't believe that he will be able to stick to a healthy eating plan.
Mr Slater, from Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, said: 'I have tried everything to calm my ADHD down so I can lose weight, but it doesn't work.
'ADHD affects my everyday life in good ways and bad ways.
'I can super focus on tasks, I don't panic in stressful situations, and I am excellent at multitasking.
'But some of the bad include my relationship with food, I am constantly craving sugar.
'The only thing that will work for me is the surgery.
'We have nowhere to go, the hospital has discharged me, and my GP can't help me.
'Their theory is if you have ADHD, you won't be able to manage with the diet requirements - I am being discriminated against.'
ADHD is a developmental disorder characterised by a persistent pattern of inattention, such as difficulty keeping focused on tasks, and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.
Research has long suggested that obesity is more prevalent in adults with ADHD, as the disorder can make it more difficult to build healthy habits, resist temptations and remain focused on long term goals, making surgery an attractive option for patients struggling to lose weight.
Mr Slater has been struggling with his weight for as long as he can remember, tipping the scales at 21 stone at age 27, claims that he has tried multiple diets that haven't worked.
He was diagnosed with ADHD at age 38 and believes it is a contributing factor to his weight loss struggles because he turns to food if he is bored or stressed.
The IT support worker managed to slim down to 16 stone after being fitted with the gastric band, but he now wears a size 2XL top and 46-inch trousers.
Both he and his mother had pinned their hopes on a gastric bypass, but claim that doctors at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust told him they can't perform it due to his ADHD.
Gastric band surgery involves having an empty silicone band tied around the top of the stomach to create two smaller stomach areas.
Mr Slater said: 'The band had wrapped around my stomach and gone septic.
'This had caused a massive infection on my chest, and I had also had fluid on my lungs.
'The band was making me ill, and it didn't work anymore, so I decided to get it removed.'
In January 2025, doctors at Homerton Hospital performed tests to determine whether the operation to remove the gastric band was successful, and Mr Slater claims they confirmed they would be able to proceed with the gastric bypass surgery.
To be considered for gastric bypass surgery on the NHS, patients normally need to have body mass index (BMI) of over 40, meaning they are severely obese, and have tried to lose weight through a healthy diet, exercise and medicine before hand.
Prospective patients also have to agree to lifestyle and diet changes and regular check-ups after surgery.
His mum, Anne Ashley-Jones, 76, from Harlow, Essex, said: 'The gastric bypass would be so good for Keren.
'Keren physically would not be able to eat the quantity of food he eats now.
'When the doctors completed the tests, they agreed that they would do the bypass.
'As far as Keren was concerned, he was just waiting for a date for the surgery.'
But in June 2025, Mr Slater went for an appointment at Homerton Hospital, where a health practitioner went through an ADHD questionnaire.
After she went through the questionnaire, he claims she recommended the NHS should not go through with the surgery.
Mr Slater said: 'When I got there, it was a doctor that I had never seen before.
'She went through an ADHD questionnaire with me, asking about my diet, and whether or not I was drinking alcohol - which I don't.
'During that meeting, we were not made aware of any issues with my ADHD.
'Until August, a doctor told me that they can't do the surgery anymore due to my ADHD, based on the health practitioners recommendation.'
In the letter addressed to Mr Slater, Homerton Healthcare Trust said: 'There is significant allied health professional concerns regarding the engagement with dietary changes, his ADHD, as well as high expectations of surgery in addition to the surgery risk.'
Adding that 'the risks of surgery outweigh the benefits and recommend discharge back to the GP.'
Mr Slater said he is 'left in limbo' and is hoping to be transferred to a different hospital.
He had also hoped he might get approved for Mounjaro through the NHS, but he only has three of the five requirements.
He struggles with extreme sleep apnea, constant fatigue, a BMI over 50 and high blood pressure.
Being severely obese has long been tied with a number of serious health conditions, including sleep apnoea, hypertension, diabetes and even some cancers.
Sleep apnoea occurs when a patient's breathing stops and starts throughout the night, as a result of excess weight causing enlarged tissue and fat deposits around the airway.
This results in less space for airflow and a greater risk of lapses in breathing during sleep, causing sufferers to wake up multiple times throughout the night.
Common daytime symptoms include extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings, all of which can exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD.
He said: 'We asked Homerton to transfer my care to Luton hospital, which they initially agreed to but have instead discharged me.
'We have considered private surgery, but you don't get the same level of support that you do with the NHS.
'It would also cost me £15k, and neither I nor my mum have the money to pay for that.
'I feel like I have nowhere to go, and nobody is willing to help.'
A spokesperson, from Homerton Healthcare Trust said: 'The Trust cannot comment on individual cases but would offer our apologies to any patient who believes we have not offered them the highest standards of care.
'Every patient awaiting bariatric surgery follows the appropriate policy and patient pathway, including having both physical and psychological assessments to ensure that the surgery is the appropriate course of treatment.'
