Gastric Bypass Surgery

[Guest guest]

Wednesday, March 29, 2006.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

A Health Dose of Reality

By Deborah M. Cofer

By now, you've heard the hype. NBC's Weather Anchor Al Roker is

shrinking, over the last TK months, he's dropped a whopping TK

pounds right before our eyes. Singer Carnie also dropped a

hefty TK pounds. Both of these celebrities, opted for gastric bypass

surgery to defeat the " battle of the bulge. " A struggle that many

Americans

According to the latest data, more than one half of the American

population is overweight-and obesity is rising at an alarming rate.

With all of the recent media attention on celebrities like NBC

Weather Anchor, Al Roker and singer Carnie , who both opted

for the gastric bypass surgery in order to defeat the " battle of the

bulge " , as a veteran of the same struggle and someone who also

choose gastric bypass as the " weapon of choice " I am compelled the

shed a new light of reality on this latest weight-loss craze that

many view as the " ultimate " solution to this growing epidemic.

After trying for years to gain control of my weight, I underwent

this five-hour procedure on June 8, 2001. At the time of the

surgery, I weighed in at 298 lbs. My decision had little to do with

appearances and much more to do with health. Like the View's co-

host, Star , my sense of self was not based on the numbers

registered on the bathroom scale of the size of my dress. But, the

years of excess weight had begun to take a devastating toll on my

ability to function at levels I felt conducive to the quality of

life I had always enjoyed. For me the gastric bypass surgery

represented a last-ditch effort to correct the imbalance between my

ailing physical body, my soaring spirit, and my sagging emotions.

Today, 123 lbs. lighter and feeling the best I've felt in years, I

feel a sense of responsibility to share my thoughts and experiences

as a veteran of the gastric bypass surgery.

Unfortunately most people have been conditioned to view the weight

loss process, as a function requiring, primarily, physical action.

But beyond the weight loss experienced as a result of the surgery

the psychological challenge of modifying dietary behaviors that did

not " magically " transform after the surgery becomes a daily

consideration that many people fail to acknowledge. Although, in

some respects, I feel as though I've won the battle, on other fronts

the war still wages on because there are still unresolved issues

with respect to dietary behavior and lifestyle changes that I

struggle to deal with everyday. With the affects of the Dumping

Syndrome that can cause a host of not-so-pleasant consequences like

nausea, vomiting, and light-headedness, when eating foods not

recommended, the first five months provided the perfect motivation I

needed to keep my eating in check. But after my body had completely

healed I was able to resume " normal " eating behaviors (eating on the

run, junk-food, fast-foods, etc.) the struggle to develop a healthy

eating regime that works in conjunction with my fast-paced

lifestyles and desire to remain healthy has become a major challenge.

Gastric bypass hasn't magically transformed my relationship with

food - it's still my addiction of choice. But it is one I'm

determined to conquer with the help of a good nutritionist. I just

thank God that with the rerouting of my gastric system, my body is

no longer able to absorb the excess fat in the way it once did and

the reduction in the size of my stomach limits the amount I can eat.

Much to my dismay the psychological factors that trigger unhealthy

eating behaviors for me (high levels of stress, no time, and other

emotional factors) weren't transformed. The reality is that the

surgery doesn't eliminate the desire for food or restrict the types

of food eaten, once the body has healed - which takes anywhere from

five to eight months. Gastric bypass surgery only provides a

physiological boost that helps the body better process and eliminate

excess fat.

The plain and simple truth about gastric bypass is that along with

the surgery comes a lifetime of personal commitment to making better

food choices, exercising on a regular basis, complying with the

necessary supplemental requirements, and committing to nutrition

counseling. Sorry folks...the procedure just doesn't allow those who

are weight challenged to bypass individual responsibility in the

process of long-term weight loss.

For more information on the

gastric bypass surgery contact:

Lenox Hill Hospital

St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital

Mt. Sinai Medical Center

Montefiore Medical Center

(718) 920-622

Internet: www.surgicalteam.com

Deborah is the Public Relations Officer for the Boriken Neighborhood

Health Center in East Harlem. She is also Founder, President, and

CEO of Let Go and Let God Ministries, a health educator, host of a

weekly cable television program " EXHALE " currently under production

and a monthly guest host of " Good News At Midnight " which airs on

Radio Station 970 A.M. (every third Saturday, midnight - 2:00 A.M.)

Deborah is also a motivational speaker and facilitator of " EXHALE " a

weekly spiritual support program for women. Her first

book " EXHALE ...Let Go and Let God " is scheduled for release in late

Spring 2003. For more information Ms. Cofer can be reached at (212)

289-6650