Villa Park couple sheds 200+ pounds and gains a new outlook

Jody and Amy Dalberg of Villa Park were tired physically, emotionally, and mentally. For Jody, the moment of change came during a routine check-up when he realized his health was moving in the wrong direction.

“It was a wake-up call,” Jody Dalberg said. “I realized I needed to fix my life, or I wouldn’t be here for my kids. That moment changed everything.”

Jody Dalberg, who works at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, heard about the weight management clinic and, along with his wife Amy Dalberg, decided to start the program. Within weeks, he enrolled and scheduled bariatric surgery, a decision he says he doesn’t regret for a second.

Amy Dalberg joined the program shortly after, taking a different route through a GLP-1 medication regimen. “We really supported each other,” she said. “Even though our approaches were different, we leaned on each other and made it work. That’s what made all the difference.”

Both say the clinic’s team-based approach made them feel empowered, not judged. “It was never about pressure. It was always, ‘Would you consider this?’” Jody Dalberg said. “They let me make my own decision, and once I did, they were right there to help me every step of the way.”

Amy Dalberg stated, “I’ve been in places before where you’re made to feel guilty or like you’ve failed. This team has never done that. It’s always been encouragement, support, and understanding.”

That compassionate care is intentional, says Amy Paulus, nurse practitioner with Advocate’s weight management team. “We want every patient to feel seen and heard,” she said. “We meet people where they are and help guide them, not judge them. Jody and Amy are a great example of how powerful that kind of support can be.”

Jody Dalberg lost 145 pounds and Amy Dalberg lost 90, but their life-changing transformation goes far beyond the numbers on a scale.

“Two years ago, a trip to Disney World meant relying on a mobility scooter” Amy Dalberg recalled. “Recently, we walked the park, which is something we never thought was possible. It’s the small things, like being able to say ‘yes’ to life again, that have made the biggest difference.”
“Now when our 11-year-old says, ‘Can we go do this?’ the answer is yes,” Jody Dalberg said. “Two years ago, it was no. Today, we say yes to so much more.”

Their story is just one example of the life-changing impact of the weight management clinic at Advocate Good Shepherd, which has seen a 68% increase in patients from 1,700 in 2024 to an expected 2,500 in 2025 as more people seek personalized medical weight loss care.

“There’s no single path to successful weight loss,” said Amy Paulus. “Some patients do well with surgery, others with medication, and many with structured lifestyle changes. What matters most is helping each person find the approach that fits their life and giving them the tools and support to stick with it. That’s where real, lasting change happens.”

“Together, we found a new version of ourselves,” Amy Dalberg said. “We’re not just losing weight. We’re gaining back our lives.”