More lightweights getting banded?

 
 I am noticing more people in the UK getiting bands with relatively low starting weight. One women posting today saying she is having surgery tomorrow and  a current weight of under 200lbs. It may be she is a very short person! But she actually commented that her doc said that with so little to lose, loss might be slow, so she really can't be enormous! She may, of course, have medical reasons for needing the band.

Another poster answered saying she only needed to lose about 50lbs. Again, I don't know her medical background.

I hope wls is not becoming a cosmetic surgery!  It is a major op and requires a major life change. Should be primarily for health not beauty, IMO. And the last resort. 

What do others think?  Am I being selfish in thinking others shoud not have what I have? Should overweight as opposed to morbidly obese people have surgery to prevent future problems.

Confused as to what I think! Kate

I've been told before that I am a lightweight at 217 starting weight. I am only 4ft 11inches so I am almost double what I should be. Even with the surgery I have lost very slowly infact I have gained 8 pds. In the last 2 monthes.  My bmi was  42 if I remember correctly and I had sleep apnea and arthritis in my knees so I was told that surgery was the best thing for me

 How annoying for you! But at your height, that's not what I was thinking of as lightweight. More people with BMI of under, say, 33-35.

i only needed to lose around 50lbs - but lost more.  i'm short 4'11 & was around 165 - that's obese...not enough for insurance to cover, but i wasn't wanting to see 200.

is this a question about universal healthcare covering the cost?  if it is, i can see the debate - if not, why does someone have to gain vs stop the bleeding sooner rather than later & can fiscally do so?

 Redbabe, no, it is just one of those " not sure how I feel" things - in no way judgemental. More what would I do myself.

If someone is on the slippery slope and can't stop, surgery is as justifiable as for someone who has alreadry got there. Prevention can be much than waiting for th inevitable. My question was about surgery for entirely non medical reasons.

Kate

OK - i see where your coming from now.

i will admit that a very LARGE reason i got the band was for vanity reasons.  never had a weight problem in my entire life - till several female operations & issues in my late 30's.   after almost 2yrs of struggling with starving & exercising - i went for the band.

guess it was a good thing i was vain, as i developed fibro & osteoarthritis and now i really need the weight off the bones.

it's a touchy subject i can see for some, i personally get annoyed when i see someone say that another patient needs to be 100lbs overweight to get WLS.    and while i have very good insurance, being a "lightweight" has never qualified me, thankfully i found 2 WLS surgeons that are very pro preventative care.  

interesting subject - hope the thread builds.

I heard a commercial on the radio the other day that said if you are just 50 pounds or more that you can get a lapband for $10,000.00. Maybe because the majority of people lose around 50? Of course more can be lost (me 90) but I think around 50 may be the average?

Although with me 50 pounds over weight became 100+ in a few years so I might have had it sooner if I knew that someday I would be morbidly obese.............. hard to tell.

Michele

Seen the same around here when i went in in 2010 i was told you had to be 100 pounds over weight and had to have health issues not any more some people are begging there Dr to give them the surgery and lie to the insurance company and Ive heard that welfare pays no matter what.

 Even on this board, I have been seeing posts from people with lower starting weights. 

i am afraid wls has become too easy to obtain in the USA. I met a couple of women here at my surgeons office who have 30 to 50 pounds to lose and are having RNY. Sad but so true
I agree with you only obese or morbily obese people should have wls as a last resort!!!!

mercedes