I certainly wasn?t suggesting that obese people should be denied treatment. Not at all. My point is that I don?t believe this is necessarily the right treatment.

Personally I feel much of the current hysteria over obesity is over-blown, counterproductive and based on misinformation. It adds to the problems of people who are overweight or obese by blaming them for their problems while threatening them with imminent death. Neither the blame nor the threat are necessarily based on reality. If we are all getting fatter and it?s killing us, why are we now living longer and healthier lives than ever before?

Most unhealthy obese people could improve their health profile by eating a healthy diet and being moderately active. Many already do and for most overweight or obese people ? particularly those without a history of diabetes, heart disease etc - this would bring their health risks in line with those of so-called normal weight people who have a similar diet and activity profile. But they wouldn?t necessarily lose enough weight to shed the ?obese? or ?overweight? tag. And in our society a lot of stigma and unfair judgment from others comes with those tags. I think this might be one reason why lots of people get discouraged from diet and exercise programs.

Addiction is a good analogy. I have written on another thread that I see this surgery as similar to cutting off a smoker?s fingers to help them give up. It might work (and it might not) but it will definitely create other effects on their life that may not be desirable. Having said that, I think there are definitely a small number of people out there who could be helped by it, and if you have done your research and decided that this is you, then all the very best to you. But it would bother me to see it used as a front-line public health measure.

It?s just my view, sorry for the slightly off-topic rant!