For these people, weight loss surgery is their last chance in our increasingly fat and sugar-fuelled society. Set in the Manukau Super Clinic and community, each patient must put in the effort to lose weight in order to qualify for potentially life-saving bariatric surgery, more commonly known as stomach stapling. As they are forced to change their eating habits and start exercising, will they have the strength and determination to reach their goal weight for surgery? We'll share their highs and lows during their year-long quest back to health. The Big Ward is a series about overcoming the challenges faced by the patients, their families and the medical staff who care for them, while also addressing the wider issues that this spiralling pandemic has created. This 10 part series is proudly funded by NZ on Air and TVNZ.