Our Story

Back in 2005, James Lamper created WeightMatters, a place where people could find treatment, help and support with their weight issues. His vision for a safe, respectful and person-centred approach to eating issues, is a result of his own early battle with an eating disorder.

Having struggled with binge eating as a boy, bullying at school and experiencing shame about his size, James found exercise in his late teenage years, and managed to lose weight. However, the psychological scars remained, and his early career as studio instructor kept him fit and healthy, but masked the hidden binge eating that remained. 

James experienced targeted psychotherapy that helped him break free from his emotional eating in his late twenties. His training and education in exercise and nutrition, combined with psychotherapy, was the holistic approach essential for his recovery.

WeightMatters became a pioneering organisation, blending targeted psychotherapy and counselling with nutrition and lifestyle management. The team now consists of 50+ practitioners, trained with passion and motivation to provide bespoke treatment protocols for clients.

When bariatric surgery started to appear as a surgical solution for obesity, James attended courses and read books on how to provide safe, effective and professional ‘wrap-around’ support services for patients choosing weight loss surgery. He knew that successful obesity treatment requires an integrated bio-psycho-social treatment model.

With increasing numbers of enquiries coming into WeightMatters of people looking for a bariatric surgeon, and people desperate for support after their weight loss surgery as they received no psychological or nutritional support, James decided to reach out to the bariatric surgeon community.

In 2017, following extensive research, a list of 10 surgeons were contacted, inviting them to meet and discuss a form of collaboration, so patients choosing weight loss surgery could experience the best integrated treatment experience, and ultimately the best outcomes from surgery.

Sanjay Purkayastha was a stand-out candidate in the people James interviewed. Sanjay experienced his own struggles with weight, and like James, found that consistent focus of a good mindset, eating well and regular exercise helped him stay well.

A professional collaboration started, and through hard work and willingness to evaluate each surgery performed, patient journey experienced and outcomes achieved, Surgical WeightMatters started to take shape.

Through his extensive 10+ year experience at the private Lindo Wing, at the Imperial College Weight Loss centre, Sanjay had shaped and perfected his surgical treatment protocols, and built a team of trusted colleagues, who over the years he introduced to James and became part of the wider MDT (multidisciplinary team) that now works for Surgical WeightMatters.