Is gastric bypass surgery the lazy way to lose excessive weight?

I have a friend who peaked at 450 pounds- yet after changing eating habits and exercise, he's down to 180, and an avid runner....He is scornfull of gastric bypass surgery, and insists its the 'lazy way' of losing weight..Anyone can lose weight through eating healthy and exercise- WILLPOWER is the key to making it happen. Well, if a person is bed ridden and can't walk becuse of obesity- it's a valid option- what do you think- is gastric bypass surgery an approprioate- or lazy way to lose excessive ammounts of weight?

My opinion is that it's a very harsh and expensive thing that has more trouble than it's worth. I wouldn't call it "lazy", as some people need it because they aren't able to exercise and don't have the willpower to eat less.... but there aren't many people that "need" it as much as they need help with their willpower.

The facts I've learned about it is that it's a very risky surgery that should ONLY be used as a last resort. Quite literally, you remove your stomach (or at least most of it) from your digestive tract, so you would not be able to digest your food as much, which lowers your intake and you get fuller faster. To many overweight people who have "tried everything", this may seem like a great idea, but by starving yourself (which is what ends up happening when you can't absorb the nutrients from your food) is dangerous and can make you dangerously under-nourished.

The worst part is that most of these surgeries are not reversible, so once you've lost the weight, you can't go "back to normal" and eat a healthy diet.... you also can't use most supplements to get your nutrition because most supplements have to digest in your stomach (which is lacking after the surgery). You'll essentially starve yourself for the rest of your life unless you're lucky enough to expand what's left of your stomach slowly by eating more than you safely should (which again, is a VERY bad idea).

Not at all. I agree if a person is bed-ridden then gastric bypass surgery can save your life.

Gastric bypass essentially shrinks your stomach so you feel fuller faster. Fat people generally have large stomachs, so they have to eat more. If they are consuming too much calories and do not burn it off, that is what makes you fat!

depends on a case by case basis i think if a lot of effort has been put into losing weight and no progress is made it is an option but should nto be considered until all other diet plans have been followed also if a person is genetically inclined to being obese it may be an alternitive treatment for them and a life saving procedue so i think there is a time and a place for it but not done before other things have been tried

the answer to that question lies with each individual. for some, they may be able to get the weight off, but not keep it off due to food addiction. some laugh at that term, but it's as real as drug or alcohol addiction. a chemical reaction in the brain that is triggered by their eating. and they cannot help themselves to stop. so, for them, the surgery can be a good option to help them not over eat. everyone's body is different. your friend is to be admired losing almost 300 pounds on his own, and i hope he keeps up the healthy habits and remains healthy. for others, it just is not possible to do that.

It is in a way a "lazy" way to loose weight but it is a sure way to lose weight. If the willpower or the ability to eat less and exercise isnt there, as it is not for so many of us, gastric bypass is the way to go. Because the person is always healthier when the extra pounds are not there. I would recommend the surgery even though the risk factors are present.

Gastric bypass is definitely NOT a lazy way to lose weight. There are many other sacrifices one must make when trying to lose weight this way, such as:

1. Eating healthier and smaller meals
2. Exercise Exercise Exercise...Oh yeah, Exercise

Definitely NOT an easy quick fix.

I thik it is another way not lazy way because if someone decide to do that, they have a diet too.

well i have to disagree.. gastric bypass is only for the overly OBESE..not fat or heavy.. there is a differance ..btw..
i do believe ALOT of us loose weight with food modification ..and i mean eat what you want but in moderation..and eating 6-8 smaller meals a day...and exercize..but then ..there are those who cant loose weight no matter how hard they try.. the ones who sit on their butts and eat all day long.. now it would be the lazy way out for them to do surgery to loose it..but then wouldnt ya think as i do... that... that would be a wasted effort?? to have the bypass surgery to sit and still eat...?? although they cant eat alot.. a few bites is basically it..
some of us whove worked our asses off...literally and lost the weight are here to let others know....it is hard... dont get discouraged.. keep pressing and going... it took longer than a day...week ... month.. to put it on ..and itll take awhile to get it off... have faith in yourself and you will make it..
also some of us who have lost weight seem to think were better than others now and have the easy solution..although i am not on of those people... they still think anythign anyone does to loose is lazy etc.. well they need to stop and realize that..they was as well lazy or they wouldnt be 400 plus pounds.. never judge another!!
also hugs to everyone trying to loose..i have faith in yall and i know ya can do it
and i wanted to say as well..the ones who end up doing gastric bypass?? usualy their health is at a serious and critical level and they have severe medical conditions..from breathing problems..asthme... high blood pressure..and i mean seriuous enough to kill one

good luck all
hugssssssss

No way. Gastric Bypass Surgery is a life saver for a lot of people with excess weight, you can judge until you are in their pants...

For the morbidly obese, it may be the only way to save their lives. They may not live long enough to lose weight by less invasive methods.

It's more a dangerous method than a lazy one. You will have to be extremely motivated to be able to qualify for any of the bypass procedures. You have to endure rigorous counseling, and be willing to train yourself to accept more or less permanent changes in your lifestyle. Certainly not something lazy people would do.

I actually agree with your friend to some degree...Not all gastric bypass patients are too lazy to lose the weight on their own...But some really are!

A friend of my friend had gastric bypass surgery because she was too lazy to workout and her husband wanted her to have the surgery and lose weight...He would always call her fat and make fun of her weight...She weighed 240lbs and has very low self-esteem...She believed her husband was cheating on her and noticed all the attention her husband gave to other women and felt threatened, unattractive and undesirable...Until it was time for her to get her surgery, he would always encourage her 1 am eating to keep her BMI up so that the insurance co. would definitely pay for the surgery...She said that she went into her counseling and evaluations and acted out different emotions and lied to make sure that she was approved for the surgery...She wanted to lose the weight in the quickest amount of time and gastric bypass was the way, she believed...So to me, that is a prime example of someone taking advantage of the insurance they have, them being lazy and them also having the surgery for all the wrong reasons!

I know someone who went from 285lbs to 205lbs by eating right, changing her lifestyle, exercising...I think if you are not bed ridden, you should at least make a dedicated effort to lose the weight on your own...I think you'd be more proud of yourself because of the accomplishment...It took alot of dedication and hard work for my friend to lose 80lbs, on her own and without diet pills or gastric bypass and she's still not done yet!

The gastric bypass person lost 125-130lbs sitting at home, lying in bed and not eating (well, except the occasional teaspoonful of food or drink) and the person that I know personally who worked her butt off working out and eating healthy, lost 80lbs...The one who worked out, ate right and did it on her own has a much more toned body than the much thinner gastric bypass patient!

Wow, good for the guy who did it alone, especially after being 450! Here is where he is WRONG and why although he appears to be sucessful now, he may still yet not be.
It makes me so sad when people feel that way; fpr a lot of people it is there last and only hope. For most people they have been sucessful, for some many times, at losing the weight. Even large amounts of it. Problem is they gain it back. So I would wait and see how mr lazy hater does in the long term. One should never judge others ebfore they walk in their shoes. Bypass surgery helps so many people get a majority of their weight off and have a much better chance of keeping it off. PLUS, there is nothing easy or lazy about this surgery ! It is difficult, it is a commitment ! It takes work and dedication and is a risk ! Nothing at all lazy or easy about it ! We still need to make the right food choices and exercise, we just have a "tool" in the form of the surgery that helps us. I hope he keeps off his weight and never has to make that decision for himself, but for those of us who did have to choose the surgery over a slow or not so slow death by fat - it was a life saving choice !