Comments on: WLS For Everyone!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:40:54 +0000

I have had wls surgery, and it was the best decision of my life. That said, I think the idea of recommending surgery as anything but a last resort, and as a preventative measure, is completely crazypants. Some people are able to maintain weight loss through diet and exercise alone; some need the help of surgery to be able to do that. However, why would you leap to surgery before making that determination? Also, what weight loss and happiness have to do with one another, I’ll never know. That’s apples and llamas.

By: Bountiful Luv Muffin

Bountiful Luv Muffin — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:04:06 +0000

My husband’s doctor advised him to have WLS. We went to a local bariatric surgeon, and we waited for TWO HOURS to see him, and no other patients were there! He gave us the basics about what WLS was, but got really uncomfortable when I asked questions about patient mortality rate within two years of having WLS, and the actual health of the other survivors of the procedure.

I guess that’s why the good doctor told my husband that he had to lose 120 pounds before he’d even touch him. (He never answered my questions, BTW.)

The long wait and the fruitless “consultation” cost us 300 bucks that we’ll never see again.
(I like the snarky quotation marks, too!)

By: Jackie

Jackie — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:04:56 +0000

I have felt WLS is a glaring example of what happens when doctors ignore “first do no harm”. There are seemingly a bazillion reason not to get WLS, and only one reason to get it that has zero to do with health.

Being thin.

I’m looking forward to your book Mary, let me know when it comes out. I find books that support what I hear among fat acceptance websites to be very interesting. Although a lot of times I feel like putting my hand to my forehead and saying, “How can these “professionals” be so stupid?!”

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:08:50 +0000

“The only proven way to lose weight…is by having obesity surgery”. Presumably, he means permanently. Of course, he couldn’t be more wrong. Looking forward to publishing a book on the subject.

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:04:40 +0000

All I can say is WTF?!?!?!?!

How the hell did this guy ever get a degree?!?!?!

By: littlem

littlem — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:35:40 +0000

” … even on those whose BMI is less than 35. ”

You know what else? I’m curious.
How low do they plan to go with this??

30? 25?
18???

By: littlem

littlem — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:33:36 +0000

“Yeah, I mean, if the Enforcers are going to amputate my stomach, then I want to come out looking like Posh Spice!”

No **** Sherlock.

No. Changed my mind.
Angelina Jolie.
If I’m going through that excruciation I want the whole enchilada.

By: littlem

littlem — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:30:35 +0000

“So if this surgery doesn’t make you thin or happy, then what’s the point?”

I know, right?
I saw Star Jones at the U.S. Open.

I think she’s gaining her weight back.

By: Peevish

Peevish — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:50:48 +0000

There is a great deal of difference between a healthy fat person having WLS for cosmetic reasons and an unhealthy fat person having WLS to save their life. I was that unhealthy fat person, and I vastly improved the quality of my life by having WLS. I’d have my Duodenal Switch done once a year if I had to in order to be as healthyas I am and feel as good as I do now.

I think WLS as a purely prophylactic measure is preposterous. As a last resort, when and if you’re so unhealthy you risk dying from obesity-related diseases, then do it if you want. For some people, this is a life-saver. It’s not about looking like a supermodel.

By: Sniper

Sniper — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:34:57 +0000

we are not going to lose large amounts or weight, or keep it off if we do, with diet and exercise alone.

So what? Seriously, unless your goal is the elimination of fat people from the face of the earth, so what? There’s no evidence that WLS makes people healthy, and a great deal of evidence that it screws people up for life – or kills them outright. This is about socially acceptable bodies, nothing more.