Rant: Obesity bigotry wins again!!!

Cleopatra_Nik
on 5/11/12 2:50 am - Baltimore, MD

You know how Melting Mama has been posting about appearing on 20/20. They pulled her segment to focus on a sheisty pair of doctors who killed 5 people with their Lap-Band procedures.

Is it just me, or does this seem like the promotion of scare tactics winning over what I thought was going to be at least a decent holistic view of WLS. I went to the 20/20 FB page to see such lovely comments as “that’s why I am losing the weight by myself, naturally." Ok umm…yeah…don’t even get me started on that sweetheart. I DARE you to work as hard as I do to keep this body.

What’s a shame is that this will work on some folks who NEED to move forward with their surgeries. Yes, I agree that it should be stressed that you need to research your doctor and the process thoroughly but centering the WHOLE story around scare tactics is, to me, disgusting.

If you feel so inclined, join me in putting a nice note for them on their page on Facebook. There is a thread they posted about tonight’s episode.

RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!

Sherry T.
on 5/11/12 3:01 am - GA

RNY on 05/22/12

Oh dear Lord, please do NOT let my Momma see this! I'm less than 2 weeks out from surgery and nothing can change my mind. On a good note, my surgeon didn't believe I would fully benefit from the band to get me to a healthy weight so I opted for RNY. I think she's more worried about the surgery than me being this big for the rest of my life. After all my life, hearing how bad I needed to work on my weight and even when I did I was chastised for one wrong thing I put in my mouth. Maybe now that she's put on a little weight she sees what I faced all my life. I digress and will certainly go out to facebook!

poet_kelly
on 5/11/12 3:06 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

I'm so disappointed about that.

I'm really glad the band is getting so much attention, because I think it's a pretty dangerous surgery, plus is doesn't usually work to make you lose weight, and the advertising about it has been so misleading saying how safe and non-invasive it is.... so I'm glad they are focusing on that.

But I'm sorry they can't still include MM's segment.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

Laura in Texas
on 5/11/12 3:17 am

RNY on 09/17/08

Oh no!! That is terrible!! I agree people need to research and find what is best for them, but I firmly believe MORE people need to have weight loss surgery but are scared or bullied out of it. It's one of the reasons I am so outspoken and honest about my surgery.

I ranted on our local ABC facebook page after they did a story about a guy who lost 200 pounds without surgery and "See, you do not need surgery to lose weight", easy eway out, blah blah blah. The next day the station did a 3 segment story on weight loss: one surgery, one ww, I think, and one just did their own diet plan. But they were positive about all 3 methods and said people need to find their way. I like to think my comments made a difference.

Laura in Texas

53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)

RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis

brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco

"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."

DisneyLover
on 5/11/12 3:41 am - WI

RNY on 12/30/10

we had a news story like that too. a guy did it the 'natural way' and was now complaining about how his insurance would not pay for his plastics even though he has rashes and extra skin. JOIN THE CLUB buddy. They kept on repeating how great it was that he did it the right way. Like surgery is the wrong way?

Annoying.

Sarah

Oxford Comma Hag
on 5/11/12 4:37 am

RNY on 09/12/11

Son of a biscuit! I was really looking forward to seeing MM on the tube. I will get on 20/20's FB page after work and express myself.

clsino
on 5/11/12 4:56 am

RNY on 10/06/09

I am ticked.

I also saw this article and thought it was interesting too.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47388588/ns/health-diet_and_nutr ition/

Christy

uscfan05
on 5/11/12 5:25 am

RNY on 08/20/12

That is horrible! Thanks for posting this though, I was really looking forward to seeing 20/20 tonight also but now their FB page is going to hear from me too!

Scaura
on 5/11/12 5:53 am - Fort Collins, CO

If folks are scared off by shoddy or clearly one-sided "news" reporting, they are not ready for the surgery and should likely wait until they are really ready. When I made the decision to have this, there would have been nothing that could have changed my mind other than my surgeon saying it was totally unsafe for me. But in general, I am always concerned how much people believe just because they saw it on tv or in their email box. News today isn't the same thing as news 2 decades ago.

Laura
HW: 311 SW:264 (size 24) CW: 174 (size 14) Surgeon's Goal: 176 My GW: 149
Weight Loss Month 1: 20 pounds! Weight Loss Month 2: 17 pounds!
Weight Loss Month 3: 12 pounds! Weight Loss Month 4: 10 pounds!
Weight Loss Month 5: 12 pounds! Weight Loss Month 6: 6 pounds!
Weight Loss Month 7: 6 pounds! Weight Loss Month 8:

25 pound to my goal!

Judi J.
on 5/11/12 5:58 am - MN

RNY on 06/26/07

it's all about ratings. people dying draws in more viewers than another segment on weight loss surgery. That is just the way it is. My sister used to refer to TLC as the fat channel because there were so many reality based weight loss shows on there. It is disappointing but I think you are over reacting.

Rant: Obesity bigotry wins again!!!

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Rant: Obesity bigotry wins again!!!