[Dejibo]

on another thread I mentioned that an MD once called me obese, and while he was WRONG! it got me to thinking.

Anyway, the FDA has just LOWERED the weight limit for those who can get the lap band surgery. It used to be morbidly obese, and then it was dropped to severly obese, and now you can get it if you are as little as 30 pounds overweight as long as you have diabetes or high blood pressure.

How to calculate your BMI
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

Guidelines for lap band surgery.
http://www.lapband.us/

Lap band post op diet
http://www.lapband.us/lap-band-diet.html

I saw on Dr. Oz the other day 2 women who have had this lap band done, and one of them eats 5 teaspoons of yogurt, 1/2 cup of broth and 4 teaspoons of pudding PER DAY! I would simply shrivel up and die! how on earth can you live on that?!

I have seen so many celebrities that have now had this done. I dont think I have the stomach for it...lol...my tummy condition would prevent me from being a surgical candidate anyway, but WOW!

What say you? have we gone too far to allow someone with only 30 pounds to get this surgery? or should they just eat the post op diet and exercise like they already have the band and drop it that way?

[mrsD]

I am not proponent of this procedure either unless it is to save a life. Anyone contemplating it should do a massive research into the pros and cons.

The change in nutrient intake, is dramatic and many people suffer long term consequences from bariatric surgeries.

One is slimmer's paralysis, where not enough good fats are ingested to maintain the nerves and brain. Some develop permanent peripheral neuropathies.

Another is dramatic loss of B12, and other nutrients dependent on stomach acid.

In the short term, people lose dramatic weight. But in the long term other things begin to go wrong, and sometimes that becomes irreversible damage.

Some people like Rosanne Barr and Carnie Wilson gain the weight back eventually. I know some people in my life who are gaining back their weight... so the stress on their bodies was for nothing.

The medical profession needs to find the hormonal triggers that go haywire in our population today. I've fought the pounds for my whole life. There is no free lunch IMO.

[Kitty]

Years ago I worked with a lady who had gastric bypass surgery. They didn't have the LapBand procedure then.

She looked emaciated and unwell. She also vomited several times a day. It was awful. She couldn't eat but tiny bits of food throughout the day. If she ate too much it would come right back up. I will never forget this.....she used to sprinkle gummy life savers with salt and nibble on them throughout the day. And heaven help you if you happened to be in the ladies room when she needed to "purge". Ugh.........

30 pounds is not that difficult to lose. I cannot imagine taking such drastic measures to lose that amount of weight. Sounds like the medical community has found yet another way to get rich off folks' vanity.

[tkrik]

I don't get it either. 30 pounds could be lost easily with diet and exercise. If it were me, I would try every healthy avenue before doing the surgery. There are lots of risks - known and unknown - with any surgery. Subjecting myself to elective surgery is not an option. I would not do it. I think the Biggest Loser is a great example of how people are able to lose weight. While most people don't have personal trainers, nutritionists, etc. readily available, I think it is inspirational and I know several people who have taken on the challenge and have succeeded. Their approach is a healthier approach. Again, I think it has to do with the individual person, their metabolism, heredity, and willingness to stick with the plan.

With that said, putting weight on is just as hard if not harder than losing weight. Up until my mid 30s I was either underweight or borderline underweight. I ate A LOT too! Nothing was wrong with my thyroid or anything, it was just hereditary. My Mom was the same way as was some of my brothers and sisters, cousins, and aunts. I am now in the same position of trying to put on some of the weight I recently lost. It is hard. People don't realize how hard it is. However, I have yet to see anything on how to put weight on or any surgical procedure to help with that.

[Erin524]

I would never get this surgery. I'd rather be fat than have all the problems that people seem to develop after having this surgery. I've actually been exercising lately (doing physical therapy, but also going to the gym some too)

Plus, this type of surgery is not recommended for people with MS, because of the chances of infection afterwards.

[Dejibo]

always looking for an easy way out. I think 30 pounds is silly to use a procedure that will make you nauseous, vomit, reflux, and possibly allow this thing to erode past the wall of your stomach. EEEK! Dear God how far have we fallen? I get it that diabetes isnt fun, but why no do the lap band diet BEFORE you allow someone to hack on you? Why not do a severe calorie restriction and see if you can make it. How frustrating must that be to have 3 teaspoons of yogurt when your family sits down to salad, and turkey burgers? You get 2 teaspoons of pudding when the family gets ice cream. I dunno. I dont think I could do it.

I love food! its a social event for me. I gather folks around my table to show them love, and comfort. We dont gorge ourselves till we pop, or puke, but we do like to sit and be social over a bowl of chicken and dumplings, or a home made beef stew. I would miss the social time much more than the food time.

[SallyC]

Originally Posted by tkrik

I am now in the same position of trying to put on some of the weight I recently lost. It is hard. People don't realize how hard it is. However, I have yet to see anything on how to put weight on or any surgical procedure to help with that.

Let me ship all of my chocolate chip cookies to you. NAH, I just buy some more.

I've always had a small weight problem(hereditary). I bet i've lost and gained a few people over the years.

I also understand how hard it is to gain unwanted weight loss back, too, Trish..

[NeuroNixed Craig]

Man! I am so happy the FDA has lowered the weight limit on those giving lap dances. It can get pretty scary sometimes and don't even try to tell me size doesn't matter. It matters "A LOT!"

[Dejibo]

I understand that losing weight is hard. REALLY HARD! but without some dedication, and perhaps a bit of counsel it wont happen. Sitting on the couch and complaining about how hard it is, wont get it done. I tell this to my neice all the time. She rings in at about 370 pounds now. She cant go from the living room to the bathroom without being really winded, and then gives up. Perhaps this could really help her, but she is so addicted to food as a comfort, pleasure and company in her life. So lonely. My heart breaks for her. I have tried so hard to get her out to events about things she loves, and we get to the car and she sits down and cries. breaks my heart. (yes, she is on anti depressants)

I know we need to do something in this country to get folks up and moving. Our baby boomers are all starting to retire and they are sicker than ever. Diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, joint problems. This is incredibly expensive on us as a country to pay for the health issues that go with such diseases.

I hope we start finding some sane solutions that work, instead of teasing folks with pills and liquid drinks or home delivered meals that are crammed full of sodium and fake sugars. How did we go from being active, and slim to pudgy and a bunch of couch potatoes? was it TV? or the fear of sending kids out to play, so we kept them in? The post world war 2 boom showed chubby babies and that was a mark of prosperity, that showed that you took good care of that child. Then force them to be part of the clean plate club and we have a problem if we dont let them out to play.

I used to walk or ride my bike everywhere, and I mean long distances. Now kids ride in AC cars, and are dropped at the door. Most get exercise to their thumbs by playing video games. Which I love, but I know if I sit here for six hours, nothing else is getting done. FaceBook can anchor me to a chair for hours on end if I let it.

Whats the answer? They are now wanting to tax soda and remove it entirely from the food stamp programs.