What are your views on weight loss surgery?

such as gastric bypass and the lap band. Personally, i think they are just medically-induced anorexia. It completely deprives your body of the nutrients it needs. sure, it works quickly, but eventually, you'll just keep getting skinnier because you can't build any muscle. or, you'll hit a plateau, and gain back all the weight.

if you've had it, i'm not trying to judge you. tell me why you like it so much and how it's benefited your life.

it drives me nuts when people just jump into the surgery, without even attempting to workout or lose the weight on your own. what i've found from talking to people is that most of them eat worse now that they've had the surgery. because they crave the junk, then they don't have room for anything healthy.

Gastric bypass and the lap band are targeted treatments for the severly obese, and not a quick fix.
The people who undergo these procedures are generally so obese that they have lost the ability to get up and move around making it impossible to burn off the calories they ingest.
Yes, you are right, the drastic lifestyle changes they are forced to make with these procedures are often very devastating, that is why a REPUTABLE doctor wouldn't prescribe it for just anyone. There are also drastic emotional changes that bypass requires. The person has to WANT TO lose the weight for the right reasons.
A reputable doctor will follow the persons' progress on a regular basis, and will also refer to a nutritionist who will guide the person toward healthy choices, making sure that nutritional needs are met daily.

The key word here is reputable. There are a few docs out there who will do the surgery and neglect the necessary follow-up with the patient, and without the referral to a counselor and nutritionist. These are often the patients who will fail. They do not have the support network that is required, therefore they starve or they have major problems with it later in life.

I do not agree with your statement about these patients not being able to gain muscle tone. When these people are able to get up and move around they are highly encouraged to do so, and as soon and as much as possible. A Reputable doctor will pair the person up with a trainer who will guide the person as to strength training excercises that will help them.

For people who are severely overweight I think it's their only option. The doctors tell them, since you're eating so much less you need to eat that much healthier. I'm sure they have to take vitamins and such also. I think it greatly increases their quality of life, but that's just my opinion. I don't know anyone who has had or anything.

Everyone I know who had it done regrets it.

It doesn't work quickly--that's just it. Everyone EXPECTS it to work quickly, but it doesn't. A friend of mine had the lap band and hated it. She was miserable and lost a total of 10 pounds before gaining 30.

Personally, instead of just opting for a quick-fix, why not look at WHY a person is overweight first? Why not adjust the lifestyle instead of correcting the outside problems?

i dont really see anything wrong with it. some people look at it as an easy way out though. i know people who never really tried to diet or exercise or even learn how to eat right! then they just go get the surgery without changing their habits. its kind of funny though, they spent thousands only to gain the weight back later because they dont know how to take care of themselves.

yeah maybe if you'd just stop eating so much and get off your *** you wouldnt need to have yourself chopped open and have more melts in your body than the engine of my truck.

i have had the lap band surgery. its not as nutrient deprived as the gastric bypass. its soooo much more easier, safer, and its reversable. they also do it laproscopically, so there is no cutting, not even on your stomach! i lost 97 ibs in 6 months from it. i didnt have lose skin, and i was able to regain my muscle tone...not bad at all. i would definitely recommend it to someone!

I have two family members that have had this done, both severely overweight. Gastric bypass, that is. I don't think of it as medically-induced anorexia because you're not starving yourself. You're reducing the size of your stomach so that you get full faster. This helps in compulsive overeaters because they stop eating when they feel full. In the cases of both family members, it was necessary, and in one case, made him go from being type 2 diabeic to just borderline now. In his case, he had to lose weight, and just couldn't, even using Atkins.

Yeah, i don't think that people should do liposuction, it posts risks just like any other surgery, and are used for only about 10-15 pounds, (vanity pounds, Aka, small amounts of weight loss,) Also its quite expensive.

Although some people may have a condition and have to lose the weight fast for medical purposes, this i think is okay, but only if its an emergency and absolutely urgent.

I used to know a girl who said that she wanted to have 3 kids, she said that she would have the kids and then just get liposuction so she would be skinny again. it kinda seems like she wanted the fastest and easiest way out of the situation, she doesn't seem to realize how expensive it is and how it can be dangerous.

But its kinda hard today with the pressure being so high on women and also on men to be skinny and perfect, no wonder many people are turning to this.

We just have to make better food choices, exercise and we wouldn't have to resort to such a drastic decision.

:]

I can't help but think its the easy way out. I understand theres a lot of pain involved but doesn't it make sense to do it the old fashioned way?
My sister and I were both overweight, she had 160 to lose I had about 60 she lost 120 of hers by having the surgery, I lost all of my by proper diet and exercise. I made a lifestyle change that will hopefully last my whole life. I watch my sister suck the salt and grease off a potato chip, but can;t eat the chip. Doesn't make any sense to me.

The problem with these types of surgeries is that people see them as the 1 solution to their problem. They think that if they have the surgery they won't have to do anything else in their lives to improve their health and that is why most of them fail. This type of surgery can work if the person having the procedure is committed to changing their lifestyle. It all comes down to eating good foods, eating in moderation, and exercising. It is the same for people who are popping diets pills left and right. Diet pills are designed to compliment a healthy lifestyle not as the only option.
There are no easy roads when it comes to health and well-being. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication - no matter which weight loss option you choose.

Someone I know had gastric bypass and eventually gained all the weight back and more. She's now looking like a water melon with legs. We live in a time in which "quick" fixes and easy answers are being sold to every sucker with a buck. Of course everyone would like to be able solve their problems just by signing a check or attending a seminar but if a person is overweight, what got them there, with very few exceptions, is lack of physical activity combined with poor eating habits.
Exercise and self control with regard to food is painful at many levels, especially when starting a regimen. But it's the only way to long term health benefits. There is no easy way out.