Discovery Health Channel

So has anyone seen those shows on DHC about the obesity clinic?  I think it is somewhere in NY or NJ.  Anyway, these really large people, some 600+ pounds, go there for treatment of their obesity and comorbidities.  Most of the people they spotlight are so sick that they aren't able to walk well if at all, and some can't even turn over in bed.  Now granted, they may not be great candidates for WLS because of psychological issues and not being ready to commit to the program, but the administrator says multiple times that WLS is the easy way out and he just doesn't believe it is an appropriate way to lose weight.  Meanwhile, these people look like they are on death's door.  Just amazes me that someone who is an administrator in a friggin obesity clinic has his head buried so deeply in the sand.  

I've seen the show, and heard the admin talk. Meanwhile, his patients are dying at somewhat alarming rate. Hmmm!  There are a lot of people in this world that don't believe WLS is the way out for obesity. Some of my family and friends are in this category. They can't deny my results though. WLS is the only diet program where I've lost more weight than I set out to lose. I would've been happy weighing 250, I now weigh 230 and I'm still losing.  Ronnie  

as near as i can figure he doesn't want them to lose with wls. he's against it because it will work and he's out of a job. that's my take at least. i mean, he'll lose his show if they get the surgery, feel great, lose a ton and move on.

his show is a freak show with no intention of helping people. he's sucking the gov't tit for money and keeping these people fat. i mean really, did you hear his excuse to let his patients have pizza and crap delivered right to their door? come on, this isn't science or a doctor, it's a ratings show making fun of fat people. more **** for tv and ad dollars. they don't get help in there. they get a pen to lay around in and wallow their sorrows with no help and then freak when the money runs out. weird premise and show. just one more stick in the face of fat people and the doctor is racking up the bucks. could be wrong but that's how i see it. i'm originally from chicago and you can't tell me it's not a scam......carbonblob

CB,

Good to see you.

Those dirty Chicago anti fat people medical ratings grubbing *******$ !

Hope you're feeling more strength day by day!

Dave

Its a shame how they exploit the sad story of Michael Hebranco (probably spelled wrong)  The guy who was once 1000 lbs.   Had to be cut out of his house.   Lost 800 lbs....800 lbs!!!  using Richard Simmons concepts.   Starred in a "Sweatin' to the Oldies" video (at 200 lbs.)   Appearred numerous times on TV telling of his success.   Re-gained weight until he was 800 lbs again.   Had to be cut out of his house again.   And has now lost about 300 lbs since he's been at the clinic. Talk about a big yo-yo. Sonny   

Well, playing devils advocate here.  Although I believe in WLS and I hope to have my date before the end of the year.  I think anyone on here truely would look at alternatives if there were one... other then getting your insides disected and rearranged to lose weight.  If a magic pill existed... would you take it before you considered the surgery?  He does have a point, you can be successful in weight control if you make a lifestyle change and stick to it...forever.  Even with WLS, it'll remove the weight but without maintenance it can come back.   But good ole united states of capitalism...err america... Spends billions of dollars each year tantilizing us, selling us, marketing us to be fat all for the greenbacks... and its so hard to resist because very smart people spend every waking moment of their lives figuring out how to get into our brains to make us buy this unhealthy, fatty, sugar products and then the other people constantly throw in your face that unless you're skinny, muscular and pretty...are worthless.  How do you cope... with food.  Then the pharm companies get a cut of the money with the anti-depressants you just got.  Then the medical and insurance companies get their cut by the maintenance and doctors visits to treat your comorbities.  We're all a part of this vicious cycle.   But the one thing they can't control is choice.  You can CHOOSE to eat a big double-quarter pounder at mcdonalds... or you can CHOOSE to eat a bag of carrots.  These fat fatties on this show, but like many of us on this board... chose the burger... now we're dealing with the consequences.  Regardless if you choose to will yourself out of obesity with diet and exercise or you will yourself to maintain your diet and exercise after WLS... you still must choose not to eat the burger.  In my opinion, is WLS the easy way out... Yes.  But to have WLS is my right and privilege as being a part of that vicious cycle mentioned above.  For some of us, it simply is too hard to resist the temptations, mental anguish, and cravings to eat.  Does that make you a weak person?  Depends on the observer...  What do you think?  How does one reprogram themselves to not eat mcdonalds when since the day you could remember, the happy clown used to be on your happy-meal and gave you good-happy-fun memories.  Or those years of saturday morning cartoons and watching the commercials inbetween telling you coke-cola, pepsi, cool-aid, sunny delight... are good for you because some hot celebrity or sports star drinks it and you look up to them as a role-model... or Sunny Delight is actually good for you because it had vitamin C (but over 30g of sugar).   Because the magic pill doesn't exist and never will because even if science were to develop it... it would put a large amount of the corporations in this country out of business.   WLS is our magic pill right now.  But atleast we're choosing to take some action to improve ourselves and make our lives better then continuing to rot away in bed with our twinkies.  Funny thing is... if enough of us continue to have WLS, maybe society will start looking at itself as the cause and implement change... revolution. Just my 2 cents...

I've seen the show the place is  called Brookhaven Rehabilitation Clinic. My intial reaction was "OMG DO the DS ON ALL OF THESE PEOPLE!!!!!!!"...but after watching the show several times, I feel that there are some people there who need to deal with some serious addiction issues before they get surgery. One woman last year, got the RNY done, within 2 weeks of surgery she was getting chinese take out delievered to her (she snuck it in by the way...the security cameras caught her on tape).  The reality is that these particular people on this show are not just obese or super morbidly obese......but they have some type of mental disease that needs to be addressed.   On the other hand, I think everyone one of them could benefit from some type of restrictive procedure...like the VSG.   While it may not help long term, in the short term it would enable them to get out of the clinic, and perhaps the reduction of ghrelin long term would help them from getting into that situation again. Scott