Why Are So Many People Opting For Surgery?
 

I can see if you're morbidly obese, have health issues in your way, or can barely move. But, I see people on here everyday, more able bodied than I, who are getting WLS... It's ridiculous. What's so wrong with healthy eating and exercising? Is it the hard work, dedication, time, and effort that scares them?

Like I said, its completely legit in my book if you've got health issues and stuff, or are morbidly obese, but otherwise, is it necessary??

I'd feel so much more accomplished if I did it myself, rather than with the aid of some surgery that I didn't absolutely need.

I am aiming for 160 lbs loss total at 16 years old. (I started at 283, but I do not expect to be 120 or so by time the year is over. I'm saying I'm 16 now..) As well as do I have health issues. A lot of folks would opt for wls with that load of weight to lose ahead of them, but it doesn't intimidate me. A lot of people want to use WLS to nip it in the bud before it gets out of control, but that's where diet and exercise come in for me... not wls. I guess you could say my weight is out of control as it is, but I'm not begging my mom to send me to a hospital in the hopes they will approve a wls recommendation. (Or however its done for the few teens that have had it..)

I suppose I am just one person who feels this way, but I just had to vent. My mom wants to audition for Biggest Loser or have some sort of WLS... But she won't even take the time to walk around the house, let alone walk on a treadmill or down the street. She won't even look up health information and learn about healthy living while on the computer. She prefers playing games on facebook from the time she get out of bed to the time she gets back in... She always talk about exercising and eating healthy and it never happens... She sees me doing it, and always says how proud she is and that she'll do it with me.. but it never happens. So that's just some motivation for me to keep going, so I never end up like that.
I'm not comparing all those considering WLS to my mother, but those people I've seen merely reminded me of how close of an issue it is to me.. aka my mother.
Maybe I'm being insensitive. *shrugs* I may get some irritated answerers to this, nor do I care if someone does so, but I'm just venting.

Edit: I know my mother would most likely not get approved for wls btw, I'm just stating that she wants one. Neither am I bashing those that get it. I'm saying, for those who get it and don't absolutely need it, why?

I haven't considered WLS for two reasons, first because I don't have insurance, but secondly I know I've never given my all to losing weight with diet and exercise. For some people weight loss surgery is their life saver, it's a very personal decision. One thing I do know, is that having WLS requires as much-if not more-hard work, dedication, time, and effort than diet and exercise. It's not some magic fix, it's just another tool to help you along your way.

Yeah, and the people who it is a life saver for I completely understand. I'm saying it as far as those who get it and it isn't a necessity.

I know it isn't a magic fix, but I know people lose weight faster once they've had the surgery rather than if they hadn't. I know it requires a great level of discipline, my question was for why go through that when that person doesn't necessarily have to.

I've never considered it because, frankly, I think it would just be too hard.

There is a WLS forum on this site, and from what I've read, its no quick fix. It seems like WLS, in combination with the surgery risks and the continued need to monitor everything, isn't the quick fix that people make it out to be.

I'm not really one to judge what is "necessary" and what isn't. If WLS is going to be the tool someone needs to make their life style healthy and mange their weight, that seems necessary to me. I think meal delivery systems aren't the best thing ever and wonder why someone would pick that. But it works for some people, and it is their necessary option. Perhaps they aren't comparable, but I think people make the best choice for them.

A magic fix is something EVERYONE wants and looks for at some point in their lives. For some people, they believe wls will be their magic fix. Personally, I hate surgery of any kind and would be scared to death to do something like that. My mother had wls years ago and she had to have a tube sticking out of her stomach for 'backflow' it was disgusting taking care of her. She was limited to liquids only for 30 days as well. And a few years after her surgery she had stretched her stomach out again and was eating her old way again. I think that seeing all she went through scared me into doing it with diet and exercise. ;)

IMO even WITH wls you are going to have to make a huge amount of changes in the way you eat and such. I also agree that unless you are 500+ pounds and can't move, you should just get up and do it the natural way. There are countless people on 3fc who've started at 300+ pounds and have made AMAZING changes to their bodies and have done it with exercise and eating healthier.

I know that my pov is harsh sounding but it's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. In the end, we all need to do what is right for us and for our bodies and we shouldn't let anyone elses opinions affect our choices.I guess my argument for this topic is: Even with the surgery you are going to have to learn portion control and better eating habits so why not try losing weight in a less drastic way? A way where you can make healthier/wiser habits foodwise and activity wise. :shrug:

I never thought of it that way, and I suppose that's a good enough reason for some people. I wouldn't use that way out and reason myself, but of course, me and that person are not one in the same.

This was exactly the point I was trying to make.. Though I'm not good with words.

I'm not good with words either, lol! ;)

My mom and sister were both over 300lbs (see a trend in my family...ugh) and had gastric bypass and watching them do it scared the crap out of me. I was probably 230-250 when both of them did it and of course never saw myself getting to 320. Once I was at 320, I can say the thought crossed my mind but never enough to actually go through with it. Both of them got down to around 160 for a little while and are now back to over 200. Neither of them exercise or learned how to eat right which is what it is really all about. Granted they are much better than they were but I am like you and would much rather do it myself without having surgery. I know I can do it...no I know I WILL do it. It is just too risky to me unless you absolutely have to have it to survive.

I won't do WLS, because for me, the risks outweigh the benefits. I have also seen two friends who are lap banded really fail, so to me it seemed like an (expensive) waste, with unnecessary risks. Neither of them truly learned (in my opinion) to eat correctly, and basically only have lost due to the feeling of restriction. Neither has lost an overwhelming amount of weight, and I would actually bet both are still considered obese. I am not sure what was gained?

But if some people need the physical reminder, if that is what keeps them on track, great for them!

I really believe that WLS is a tremendous tool that can save lives. I also really believe that it can be an act of unneeded butchery perpetrated to make money out of the pain and desperation of other people.

I think the way you tell the difference is the path it took to get there:

GPs office >> specialist >> nutritionist >> back to specialist >> WLS >>continuing visits with all three = good chance everyone is approaching the procedure with an attitude that will encourage success.

On the other hand, if it goes: see billboard >> free seminar with 50 people >> consult with insurance specialist/loan officer >> consult with nurse >> WLS >> referred to some website = much less likely to be successful.

These days we are seeing much, much more of the latter, and that's giving WLS a bad name.

I totally agree!! Well stated :D

WLS is a very, very personal decision that is really up to the person having it to decide whether or not it is necessary. Since we can't know all the facts nor how much effort or suffering they have gone through, it is wise to withhold judgement of others and focus more on what we can do for *our own* journey. Being obese can be very painful, and if a person chooses WLS as a way to try and better their lives, my response is support and compassion.

A close friend of mine got some kind of WLS, and from what I saw it was far from an easy out. Luckily she was dedicated, and focused enough to change her whole life. She exercises daly, and changed her eating habits entirely. She is doing very well from what I can see, and it made me wonder why she didn't just exercising and eating right in the first place. From my perspective, unless WLS is needed for health reason, a person might as well do it the old fashioned. It is cheaper, and in the long run I think it teaches better life style choices.

I wouldn't consider it because I just know I'm the type of person that would go through it all, have lots of side effects, and then somehow eat "around" it and gain all the weight back. I know it is a Godsend for some people, and I totally respect their choice to do it.