Article Discussion - Weight-loss surgery grows in popularity, options

[b2g Admin]

This thread is for discussion of the article entitled, "Weight-loss surgery grows in popularity, options" which can be found on the Band2gether home page (click Home tab above).

[PhotoNut]

I found this newly published article this morning and decided that the content was so important it deserved to be on the B2G Home Page!

I think it's a must read for everyone who is considering weight loss surgery (WLS) or has already undergone WLS.

Understanding that none of the WLS options will be a long-term fix without our dedication to making changes to our behaviors is so important.

I worry for those who jump from one surgery to the next because they are unhappy with the results from their current WLS choice. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about those circumstances where medical conditions dictate the necessity for revision to another surgery. I'm talking about those who give up on their current WLS and jump to the "next" one in hopes that it will be the miracle they didn't find with their first (and sometimes second) surgery.

When we first decide that WLS is going to be our only hope, I don't think there is anything that can convince us that it can fail. We don't want to hear those words. We quickly push aside the warnings from those who tell us that unless we are ready to make some drastic changes in our lives, the surgery will not be a long-term success.

I am beginning to think that more should be required for surgery approval, such as classes about the reality of weight loss surgery and the importance of having your head in the game. One informational seminar and the attendance of one support group meeting (as is required by my surgeon) is not enough time for the reality to sink in. In fact, at our support groups, we were asked not to focus on the struggles and not to talk about ways we can eat around the band, because it discouraged people waiting to be banded. Um... those are realities.

People need to know that WLS is not a magical cure all. It will not make you thin while you sit at your computer and eat cookies and ice cream.

Yes, I'm on my soap box today.

I'll get down and let others share now, but I'm sure I'll be back! :pound:

[MoOrLess]

A lot of things stood out for me from this article, the biggest being "About 80 percent of those who get surgery will succeed. That's defined as losing and keeping off at least 10 percent of body weight long term."

Does someone really think that keeping 10% of our excess weight off long term is successful use of our tool (the band)? I know that the percentage of weight to expect to lose from being banded is 60% of our excess weight - and the rest is up to what we do about the other 40% we still need to lose (stepping up exercise, nutrition, etc). I think this goes hand-in-hand with what Susan said in the above post. MORE definitely needs to be done to educate pre-banded people and everyone who works with band patients.

There are numerous people just on B2G who have proven that ALL of their excess weight could be lost, and was. It's time for the medical community to embrace this and work with us, so we can all lose the most weight possible and be healthy human beings.

This is scary: " Only one in seven morbidly obese people live an average lifespan." And motivating!!! Using our awesome tool to it's maximum potential is a must-have mentality. And the only way we can do this is by "Maintaining a healthy weight after surgery requires constant reinforcement of commitment, she said. Success requires new relationships with exercise, nutrition and portion sizes."

Great article! A must-read for everyone.

[MommaStone]

I also really like the article. Susan, I agree that when considering surgery, we need to know the whole picture. I think that when people don't realized that it's possible to regain the weight if you don't commit to using the band forever, that when the old habits creep in and weight comes back on, it could be VERY demoralizing. Most of us with weight issues don't need any help in beating ourselves up when we think we fail at the weight loss game. Being fully informed is SO important.

One of the benefits of this site is to help us all realize that this is a journey that we have to continue to walk and that it is not a journey across a flat prairie but a journey through hills and valleys. So, everybody, strap on your hiking boots and let's keep trekking!