Why do people have weight loss surgery?

Losingthedamnweight

Just wondering. I was watching some show on tv about this person eating whatever they want because they're planning on having weight loss surgery later anyway, so they figured screw it. Won't try to eat healthy. The surgery will fix the fatness! Then I watched something on YouTube about someone having a lap band put in and they lost a bunch of weight quickly and then...ate a bunch of crap all over again and gained the weight back, stretching out their stomach again.

I know there must be a legit reason people have it and I'm probably getting the wrong idea watching these programs so I'm asking, why do people get it instead of just eating healthier and getting some exercise? It must take a lot of stuffing your face to maintain at 500 lbs. like you really have to work at it. So I'm assuming even at 3,000 calories a day, they would lose a bunch of weight. How can having surgery be their best option, considering cost and health risks associated with having an operation? Isn't gastric bypass the same as just eat less, but being forced to do it cause your stomach is smaller? My brain hurts

Liftng4Lis

You know how people filing bankruptcy go out and start maxing out their credit cards? (Losers) Same basic concept. I would say that with few exceptions (because there are medical necessities sometimes), people don't want to put the work in. This site shows hundreds of people who have lost 200- 300 pounds so it proves WORKING it, it CAN be done.

lemonsnowdrop

I can understand it a procedure is done for emergency medical reasons. If a person's life is in danger and WLS is the best option, then we must do all we can to preserve that life. Otherwise, no, I don't agree with having WLS if you have the ability to lose it any other way. It should be a last resort.

zyxst

Because some people think it's simpler to amputate parts of their body than put in actual effort to change how they eat.

SideSteel

You know how people filing bankruptcy go out and start maxing out their credit cards? (Losers) Same basic concept. I would say that with few exceptions (because there are medical necessities sometimes), people don't want to put the work in.

I actually disagree with this at least as far as a statement representing the majority.

So we all know that creating a calorie deficit leads to fat loss and consequently it becomes very easy to say that people who aren't able to do this are simply lazy slobs who can't manage to get off the couch and put the fork down. I think that's a presumptuous stance to take.

I would have to imagine that most people who are considering surgery to help them lose weight have already made several attempts to try to lose fat in the past but they have simply failed. Why did they fail? Because it's really freakin' difficult to do, and it's especially difficult to sustain, and weight loss statistics probably confirm this.

MelodyandBarbells

My guess is, the said 500 lb person repeatedly tries to lose weight by eating 1200 calories of chicken and veg. Outside of MFP it seems the phrase " it's not a sprint, it's a marathon" is fairly common - except when it comes to improving your nutrition and getting healthy. Thine diet must be overhauled overnight else you're not doing it right. Surprisingly the diet fails, and, compounded with any emotional issues the person has they just keep getting bigger. Hence the perceived need for medical intervention. IMO

mscolleen2003

I had the surgery in May of 2006 and still have to watch what I eat and workout daily. Weight loss surgery is like a screwdriver. If you put a screwdriver on the table, it does nothing all by it's self. You must pick it up and use it to complete the job. People want something for nothing and trust me weight loss surgery just does not work that way. One other thing. When I had my surgery you had to undergo a physic evaluation before you could be considered. Out of the 20 of us that started together, only 3 were able to have the surgery.

tiptoethruthetulips

You know how people filing bankruptcy go out and start maxing out their credit cards? (Losers) Same basic concept. I would say that with few exceptions (because there are medical necessities sometimes), people don't want to put the work in. This site shows hundreds of people who have lost 200- 300 pounds so it proves WORKING it, it CAN be done.

That's a broad brush you are painting with.

Bit harsh to call people who have weight loss surgery ' losers' with the meaning you intended.

I haven't had such surgery and do not intend to, but I would say a lot of people who do have put the work in, and have done so many times, however, they haven't been successful for whatever reasons. Sure no doubt there would be a small percentage who would perceive it as an easy option, but I guarantee they soon change that perception as such surgery is not easy and neither is the way they have chosen to lose the adjournment can be a hard slog.

fatfudgery

Gastric bypass patient here. People who get WLS generally do it because they need to lose weight, have tried everything else and for whatever reason it hasn't worked for them; the compulsion to overeat is stronger than the need/desire to lose weight.

As for the people binging before getting surgery, or actively working against themselves post-surgery... What surgeon is actually going ahead with these surgeries??? The process I had to go through was long and complicated and involved a lot of education, psych evals, nutritional guidance... These idiots wouldn't have made the cut.

tiptoethruthetulips

I haven't had such surgery and do not intend to, but I would say a lot of people who do have put the work in, and have done so many times, however, they haven't been successful for whatever reasons. Sure no doubt there would be a small percentage who would perceive it as an easy option, but I guarantee they soon change tha http://www.flat-chat.com.au/forum/renters-rants/tenants-shut-door-on-open-house-inspections/ t perception as such surgery is not easy and neither is the way they have chosen to lose the adjournment can be a hard slog.

I so dislike auto correct....adjournment should be 'and neither is the way they have chosen to lose the WEIGHT IT can be a hard slog'

fatfudgery

Because some people think it's simpler to amputate parts of their body than put in actual effort to change how they eat.

Right, because losing weight with WLS requires no "actual effort." You're clearly a scholar on the matter and know what you're talking about. Your opinion is well-informed and valuable.

divediva2

I think WLS is a personal choice. While I might not have it, it is not up to me to judge those who do. I did research what was involved and felt that I was not really a good candidate. I am morbidly obese according to charts.
Reasons for not having the surgery: expensive, follow up appts out of town to have the band adjusted, and the kicker for me, if you eat too much after surgery you will vomit. Sounds basic but that is why I chose not to have surgery.

Reasons one might consider, so obese that it is affecting their health, the desire to lose weight, the feeling that they just can't lose the weight otherwise.

zericaaaaa

even for people who are bedridden, i've seen documentaries where they were able to lose the weight just by simply raising their arms up and down while sitting for exercise (as well as a slight calorie deficit.) idk though i don't know how it feels for the people who have to consider WLS. i will always be a firm believer in doing things the natural/healthy way. if the only reason for WLS is lack of willpower, its hard for me to feel sympathy

Liftng4Lis

You know how people filing bankruptcy go out and start maxing out their credit cards? (Losers) Same basic concept. I would say that with few exceptions (because there are medical necessities sometimes), people don't want to put the work in. This site shows hundreds of people who have lost 200- 300 pounds so it proves WORKING it, it CAN be done.

That's a broad brush you are painting with.

Bit harsh to call people who have weight loss surgery ' losers' with the meaning you intended.

I haven't had such surgery and do not intend to, but I would say a lot of people who do have put the work in, and have done so many times, however, they haven't been successful for whatever reasons. Sure no doubt there would be a small percentage who would perceive it as an easy option, but I guarantee they soon change that perception as such surgery is not easy and neither is the way they have chosen to lose the adjournment can be a hard slog.

Actually, I was calling the people that do the bankruptcy thing losers (pet peeve of mine).This probably wasn't the best analogy, but was what came to mind when he said they knew they were doing it and went on to eat whatever they wanted The OP asked why some people get it INSTEAD of eating healthier and exercising. My response was that with the exceptions of medically necessary, people don't want to put the work in.

SEAFOODMAN

alot of them gain it back, don't change their habits.....

Timelordlady85

There are many reasons why someone chooses to get WLS, none of which are any of mine or anyone else's business.

kessler4130

I am sorry but coming from 315 lbs to 199, and failing several times prior (now its my life, I eat to get stronger or leaner, always with a purpose), I simply cannot buy into the whole it was my only option thing. If you want something bad enough, you will achieve it, and to insinuate that a 500 lb person would need to eat 1200 calories to lose weight is just absurd. A 500 lb person could cut weight on a ridiculously high number of calories. All the weight loss surgeries in the universe are not going to stop someone with no self control from stuffing their reduced stomach with super calorie dense food, and on the other end of the spectrum lets say they decide now that they have lost weight, they now want to build muscle..... well good luck doing that with food restrictions. If you want to lose weight, do it by changing your lifestyle, not by forced restrictions. But do what ever you wanna do.

shaynepoole

I had a multitude of health problems and would have done the weight loss surgery if I could. But those same health problems actually worked against me so it never happened. I know people who have had it and it is not an easy decision to make, nor is it just living on easy street once it is done.

TV shows are not a picture of reality for most people choosing to go that route. TV's job is to keep you watching. Unfortunately real life for most people is not TV worthy so it ends up depicting the worst aspects of society.

I wouldn't judge all people by one person's actions on a TV show.

And the reasons for weight loss surgery would be different for everyone, but in the majority of cases, it would be a last resort as they have tried other things. But I would think it's never a decision taken lightly and flippantly. In a lot of cases, people actually do have to lose weight before having the surgery - again TV is not reality nor should it be taken as such...

Sarauk2sf

Gastric bypass patient here. People who get WLS generally do it because they need to lose weight, have tried everything else and for whatever reason it hasn't worked for them; the compulsion to overeat is stronger than the need/desire to lose weight.

As for the people binging before getting surgery, or actively working against themselves post-surgery... What surgeon is actually going ahead with these surgeries??? The process I had to go through was long and complicated and involved a lot of education, psych evals, nutritional guidance... These idiots wouldn't have made the cut.

I actually thought that many have to lose a certain amount before they will be allowed surgery (possibly due to the increased risks of being under anesthetics while morbidly obese). I could be wrong here though.

Sarauk2sf

alot of them gain it back, don't change their habits.....

So does anyone who has dieted. I think the 'failure' rate is about 90%.

tennisdude2004

Gastric bypass patient here. People who get WLS generally do it because they need to lose weight, have tried everything else and for whatever reason it hasn't worked for them; the compulsion to overeat is stronger than the need/desire to lose weight.

As for the people binging before getting surgery, or actively working against themselves post-surgery... What surgeon is actually going ahead with these surgeries??? The process I had to go through was long and complicated and involved a lot of education, psych evals, nutritional guidance... These idiots wouldn't have made the cut.

^^^^^^ this.

For a lot of people WLS is not a simple solution. It comes with its own complications and restrictions.

As the poster above mentioned most that choose this route do it as a last resort and after years of battling losing and regaining weight.

I think a lot of people making broad sweeping statements do so because they are uneducated about the process and the eating restrictions that occur afterwards.

Yes like in anything in life a minority of people will abuse it after they have it done. As far as the youtube clip and the TV program goes, I should think those two examples are sensationalised (was the TV program channel 4 by the way) and are definitely not the norm.

Most patients I think have to undertake a pre weight loss programme before the surgery.

OP I would suggest doing some proper research, rather than getting the opinions and comments from the misinformed. Maybe that will stop your head hurting!

KathieSwenson

In my experience it is one of three things. Either they have tried everything and just can't loose the weight. Sometimes this is a lack of knowledge issue and sometimes it is lack of will, and sometimes it is a medical condition that keeps them from loosing weight. I have seen people that have done really well with the lap band or the gastric bypass and I have seen people who didn't do well. In my experience those that didn't do well outweighed those who did do well. Yes, they go through psych evaluations but I know of two people from my own personal experience that both had gastric bypass and passed the psych evaluation and still did not do well. One would eat and eat till she vomited at the table and the other ended up and a psych rehab facility shortly after getting the surgery.

I don't have an opinion either way. I'm currently a fitness instructor that teaches body flow and I have plans to get my trainer certification along with my Body Combat certification and my Body Pump certification. I firmly believe that if we had been well educated as far as nutrition and how the body works that a lot of the WLS candidates would not be doing WLS unless it was medically necessary. Even I am having problems loosing weight at this point and I am learning more about why Apples make me feel better when I eat one, or what level of acidity our body should stay at to feel more energetic and healthier.

It is a learning process and I'm not real sure that we should be asking this question. Everyone has a right to decide if they want to go through the WLS or not. I personally will not because nutrition wise I don't believe its "fixes" the issue. One of the ladies I talked to told me how she was to eat after surgery and your body must have 1200 calories or more to survive. That being said she was eating around 200 calories a day if even that after her WLS. Did she loose weight. OF COURSE! who wouldn't when you are not getting the necessary calories your body needs, but what it causes is muscle Catabolism - meaning your body breaks down the muscles not the fat to survive.

I think WLS is a surgery that each and every individual has to ask them self, did I do everything I could. Then they should go from that point at this time I would not be a candidate. Do I want to be NO but if I did I would not be because first my Body fat % does not meet the criteria and 2. I haven't done EVERYTHING.

zoeysasha37

I know a lady that had the surgery done. She went threw many months of testing, counseling and was finally cleared to have the surgery. She rapidly lost about 90 lbs. She then slowly slipped back into her old ways and has now stretched her stomach back out and gained the weight back.
I think this is like anything in life, some do what they need to do, in order to be successful and others just give up. I have nothing against anyone who had wls, that's their choice. Some make a positive lifestyle change and are successful and others fall back into their old habits.

vismundcygnus27

For weight loss surgery to make a difference in the long run, you do actually have to make an effort. My mother got liposuction several years ago - she was quite overweight, and her thyroid problems made it difficult to lose weight "the right way". So she got lipo, and made sure to have healthy eating/ exercise habits afterwards, because if she put the weight back on, it would probably never come off.

I don't think surgery should be the first line of fire when it comes to weight loss, but I think it's a valid option is sincere efforts at changing your habits have been unsuccessful. That said, it seems like many people jump to it far too quickly because they haven't put the work in, or simply became frustrated too quickly. Those are the same sorts of people who are likely to gain the weight back after their surgery.

George_Baileys_Ghost

Anytime the question starts with "Why do people...", the conversation goes awry from the start. The presupposition of intent on the part of a single person, with some knowledge about them is difficult at best. The presupposition of intent on the part of a general group, or of all people is impossible.

There are many reasons. Some of those will hit the farthest end of the spectrum for good, others for bad, and the rest will fall anywhere in between. Weight loss surgery in and of itself is no indicator of failure or laziness. Neither does it absolve one of those things either. Some people want an easy way, Some need a quick solution for health reasons. It's pointless to try and judge the process or the generalized group of people who have it.

CyberEd312

Speaking from experience at my heaviest I was consuming close to 10,000 calories a day and had no problem doing that... I consumed foods very calorie dense (21 in. Pizza's, boxes (not individually wrapped) of swiss cakes, hoho's, Nutter butters, bags of chips like Doritos, tortilla chips smoothed in cheez wiz, etc, etc..... It really was not that difficult, my biggest problem at that point was guilt tripping my family or flat out verbally bashing them until they caved and gave me what I wanted.. the Last couple years getting close to my max weight I could barely get around the house, let alone leave the house.. I still managed to get to my truck on occasion and drive myself through the drive thru's when I really wanted something.... When you are in that vicious cycle of being hungry, stuffing your face til you feel like throwing up, then play the why do I do this to myself and saying I am going to change, and that only lasting til you have room in your belly to eat more so you start the cycle over again.... At that point (and I think I can speak for most) you are in a cycle that you can't see anyway out of so you refrain to the fact nothing will change and I would say alot of people view the surgery as an easy way to try and break that bond. If you can't eat all that food because your stomach is the size of an egg now then you'll just get skinny and that is that.

You can't see past that part of it to all the changes you are going to have to make to sustain any of it... Changing your eating habits, exercising for fitness, changing your mindset towards all that you have known to date, etc, etc.... At that size the easy way out is to take the easier road (or atleast what at that time you perceive to be the easy way out.) but in my case I still had enough common sense to know that no amount of Weight Loss Surgery was going to fix what caused me to get to 560 lbs. If I could not fix what was broken in my head then there was no chance in my mind that I would ever be able to lose the weight and keep it off.... So I was totally against WLS for me as an option.. When my doctor asked me if I wanted the surgery I told him HELL NO!! I would do every thing I was asked to do by him and the dietician and whoever else but I was doing this naturally or die trying.... You really have to be in the right mindset to do this.... I don't know the statistics but I would have to say it is in the single percentages of people that can lose 200-300-400 lbs, on their own and keep it off. And for the majority of those people the WLS in the beginning probably looks like the easier option... Little do they know it is NOT and is why alot of them fail because they never tackle the real reasons they got that big to begin with...

A life long friend that had Gastric bypass and lost 200 lbs. and I followed her journey on facebook a couple years ago and was doing so good at her weightloss and exercise had been distant the last year and I had not seen much posted from her until a few weeks ago she said she was moving back home (lived in Missouri the last 10 years) and didn't give a reason why... She called me Friday (knows I am an IT.Computer nerd) and asked if I could fix her laptop and she stopped over and to my horror she has put back on all of her 200lbs, lost and I would say another 50-60lbs. on top of that.. Seeing me she lost it in the driveway, She is so ashamed of failing and seeing my success (even though she is really happy for me and my success) and when I asked her what happened she said she never fixed the mental side of the journey. She never addressed her severe depression, her childhood issues that cause her to eat to hide her problems and even though she experienced so much success in the beginning it wasn't enough... I sat in this very recliner with a loaded handgun for 3 days back in 2009, trying to think of a way to blow my brains out and not leave a mess for my family to come home too, on the 3rd day I realized that was not going to be possible, I accepted I had a major problem, and had that AHA moment and put the gun down and start working to fix the problem...

I can tell you it was nothing short of climbing my own Mt. Everest but I went about it the right way getting to heart of my problems, working through them and taking my progress in steps and finally overcoming my weight issues... So when I say they use weight loss surgery as the easy way out I don't want you or anyone to think I mean that in the sense that it often gets taken out of context in other threads on here. I simply mean when you weigh 500+ lbs. that surgery is looked upon (atleast from my view) as a quick fix so that I would not have to put in all the effect it would take to lose 300+ lbs. but in the end there is NO EASY WAY OUT.... You will have to work your *kitten* off regardless end of story....... Best of Luck

ninerbuff

I'm currently working with a client now who already had it done and my niece is opting for it because she was born with a hormonal issue (thyroid) where weight loss is an uphill battle.
For those who think it's the "easy" way out, they don't know much about he complications and lifestyle changes that go along with it. It's by no means easy, and for some it can also very stressful because they still aren't able to address the reasons on why they turned to food for comfort and end up utilizing something else to replace it instead of food now (IE alcohol, gambling, etc.)

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

arewethereyet

Just wondering. I was watching some show on tv about this person eating whatever they want because they're planning on having weight loss surgery later anyway, so they figured screw it. Won't try to eat healthy. The surgery will fix the fatness! Then I watched something on YouTube about someone having a lap band put in and they lost a bunch of weight quickly and then...ate a bunch of crap all over again and gained the weight back, stretching out their stomach again.

I know there must be a legit reason people have it and I'm probably getting the wrong idea watching these programs so I'm asking, why do people get it instead of just eating healthier and getting some exercise? It must take a lot of stuffing your face to maintain at 500 lbs. like you really have to work at it. So I'm assuming even at 3,000 calories a day, they would lose a bunch of weight. How can having surgery be their best option, considering cost and health risks associated with having an operation? Isn't gastric bypass the same as just eat less, but being forced to do it cause your stomach is smaller? My brain hurts

The people I have known to have had the surgery all had to wait 3-6 months when using reputable doctors. In those months they lost as much weight as the average MFP member does in the same time frame. This, I have been told, is to reduce the inflammation thus having a better result during surgery.

One of the women decided she would join here instead (wonder who put that in her ear ) after losing 50 lbs. She is well on her way to a healthy weight.

SunofaBeach14

I think what you're missing OP, is the mental health aspect in all of this. When someone's mental health problems are terribly damaging to their physical health, surgery simply becomes a viable option to keep them alive. Mental health is often missed in these discussions, and it's not always a factor, but I would argue that most people who get to this point have issues above and beyond the physical driving them to eat that much. It's not far off from why people become alcoholics or drug addicts in terms of trying to find a way to lessen the pain and depression. Just because something is easy for you doesn't make it easy for everyone else.

Meerataila

Thanks for the insight, CyberEd. I'm a My 600 Pound life junkie. And what I see on that show is what you describe, too. And a place I know I could eventually end up in if I don't manage both my eating and the rest of my life very carefully. I'm a huge eater. I can put away close to ten thousand calories of certain foods. I could do it right now if I wanted to, and I weigh under 115. Doesn't matter. It's about capacity and the urge to do it.

Fortunately I have some genetic blessings along with my curse, and right now I have the resources to buy healthy foods and eschew (pun intended) the junkfoods that allow me to eat almost 10k calories in a day. So I don't need the surgery. But I will never say it's not ever in my future. Someday it might be. And it sure doesn't look like an easy way out to me. Weight loss surgery patients still struggle and obsess about food and fight every day to lose and keep weight off.

whovian67

Statistically speaking... people that get bariatric surgery (without psychological intervention for underlying issues) gain back their weight within 5 yrs.

Its an easy way for people to lose weight fast. No exercise required.