Question:
14 year old boy considering lap band. Any advice?

Dont know if i have the discipline to follow the program. will i really see results? what's the worst part about the surgery? painful? Vomiting? bmi42 thanks for any ncomments    — jelizabeth (posted on April 26, 2009)

April 26, 2009
If you're not sure you have the discipline to follow the diet and lifestyle changes necessary, you aren't ready for the surgery. The surgery is just a tool, not a cure. There are people who go into wls and lose some weight but then stretch their pouch or live off of milkshakes and end up gaining everything they lost back and more. It's probably best to get more experience dieting, etc under your belt before you do anything. It's a risky surgery and you're very young. I'm not even sure they will do wls on someone so young. If you want to try dieting now, I had the best results from weight watchers and I would recommend it.
   — mystimel

April 26, 2009
Don't do it. You are too young and if dieting alone is hard for you, the lap-band is not a magic cure. The good thing about being 14 years old and a boy is that you have the power to lose weight quickly on your own. I know that being an overweight teen can be hard. I've been there. What I didn't know is that being active, walking, riding my bike, roller skating etc.. would have helped me. I can remember once when my Mom commented on how my hips were so big they were really hanging over my bike seat. I put my bike away never to ride again. I was too ashamed. I thought everyone would be looking at my big butt on my bike. What I should have done was keep riding and riding. Don't give up on weight lose. I wish you all the best. Hold your head up, especially in school and know that you are a good person. Big or small. Good Luck Baby Boy!
   — Cookie1257

April 27, 2009
I do not believe teenagers should have WLS of any kind unless their health is failing and at serious risk. A 14 year old still has up to age 21ish before they stop growing...During that time they have many hormonal changes that can affect their weight as kids...I think that taking diet and exercise SERIOUSLY now is the best/safest option for a 14 year boy. Follow the same dietary changes you would if you had lapband for a year! Cut out soda and most sugar and limit white bread and starches...take up an active sport or activity and eat real food, measured out to one or two servings. (You are still a growing boy and need nutrients) Do a food journal...Learn where you can cut out calories this way...None of your friends need to know, and even if they do know, they might tease until they see you losing weight!!! Even kids as mean as you all are (yeah, I was a kid once, I know how you all are!), still are impressed when they see someone making self improvements! Cut out the wasted calories that offer you little or no nutrition! If it's fortified..That means that is was NOT nutritious enough on it's own to eat that the gov't had to add back vitamins to it! DON'T eat that crap! Eatr real food as close to when it came from nature, swam in water, fell from a tree, grew in dirt, walked the earth on four legs...etc....or came from a mama (lower fat milk and cheese, yogurt type stuff as well) Drink WATER! Lift weights and do resistance training! Muscles burn hotter than fat and so you burn more calories doing nothing when you have muscles! So work on strength/muscle building. Sometimes diverting all your energy away from eating and towards something like an activity such as strength training or a sport, is exactly what is required of you if you have WLS anyway! ( I eat when I am bored! So I try to stay busy) So give it your all on your own first! Don't give up! (even if you have a bad day...start all over the next day) Try it a year and see if you can make important changes on your own... Any diet pill or weight loss aid, INCLUDING WLS all comes with two important rules above and beyond all others. "Diet and exericse"...PS, I am not saying it's easy....you have to work it out! It won't be easy, no matter what you do...But you have to do something...I think you should start by giving it a serious try on your own first! Good luck!
   — .Anita R.