WLS stigma?

You may be interested in this link to the blog of a Canadian bariatric surgeon. Here, he points out the stigma associated with losing weight through surgical means.

This is an interesting blog to subscribe to as well, IMO.

http://www.drsharma.ca/obesity-the-stigma-of-bariatric-surgery.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AryaSharma+%28Arya+M.+Sharma%2C+MD%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail

I believe it.  That's why I only told my HB, kids and a couple of friends. 

Oh yea there is a big stigma attached to WLS. I told maybe 2 people in my family and word got out. So now on a daily basis I am dealing with phone calls, emails, and in you face conforntations (if you can call them that). "oh I know so and so who had it done and they died" or "i know so and so who had it done and they gained all the weight back." or " when you loose it all you are going to look sickly and not be healthy at all"..... yea yea yea. I got tired of trying to explain things and when they started using the more exercise, less food line I went off.

TOld them that if that was all it took then why werent they doing it. MOST of my family are far from little and it was like they were saying them being fat was ok so why shouldn't I be right there with them. Most of them have the same problems I do and really seem to not care. It has been the same with some people I thought were friends but turns out not so much.

Guess there are people that a person might want to really tell but really IMHO be sure you think hard about it, never know when that "friend" may try to be the biggest sabateur you can face to face with.

Interesting!

I hadn't thought about it, but one of the comments really hit home.  She said the stigma against wls is similar to the stigma against people who take anti-depressants.  People tend to veiw people who do things on their on as better than people who get help.  My view of wls is the same as the anti-depressants I take.  I don't care how it works or why but I feel better and that's the important thing.  And as long as I feel better, I'm happy and everybody else can get stuffed.  And honestly, I don't care what people think of me, I'm no longer super morbidly obese nor am I depressed thanks to the TOOLS and the HELP I've gotten.  Besides I tend to think it takes a stronger person to admit they need help (and GET IT) than to tough it out on your own.  JMO and I may be justfying my own actions but ....

The "stigma" is exactly why I share my story with anyone and everyone. Too many people do not personally know anyone who has had weight loss surgery. They hear horror stories and pass them on as gospel. I try to share information and tell everyone if they ever hear anyone who is thinking about surgery to have them contact me. I've had at least 10 friends have surgery after seeing how well my journey has gone. I feel it is important to spread the message and pay it forward. I want to help others lead a healthy life!!

Laura

I like your attitude!  I'm only 3 months out and while I've lost an amazing amount of weight, I'm still really big.  When I tell people, I always tell them that I'm ONLY 3 months out and down 80lbs. 

I told everyone and didn't feel that there was any "stigma" attached to how I lost it. I was the one who when people asked how I lost the weight was to just say "oh, I had gastric bypass". My friends and co-workers would hear this and chime in to say "no, you worked hard at it as well". I'm not sure if I'm the exception or if it's more common now days to see people who've had WLS. Also I had another co-worker that had RNY 3 years before I did and pretty much gained it all back and ate horrible. Maybe my co-workers saw that and knew that this wasn't an easy fix and that you had to work hard in order to lose it and keep it off since we had a perfect example of someone who wanted the easy way and failed by not changing their bad habits or lifestyle.

I've told Everyone and the great majority of people have been very supportive.  Two of my closest friends are skeptical and fearfull, but one is still supportive.  I hope by spreading the word I can help to dispell some of the fear and stigma attached to WLS !!!  3 1/2 more days til surgery, YAHOO!!!!

I found this to be true early out..I also told everyone and anyone that I was going to have surgery, ...there were alot of assumptions that I was going to fail.

But I've also found that because there are alot of people who fail further out and gain their weight back in a short time, that my success is drawing people to question me. I've been at goal since 11 months out. I briefly got down to 117 due to stress but I've been hovering right at 125 (which is my surgeon's goal for me) for 4 years +..now people who never voiced any opinon at all are coming to me and saying they've watched me and they're interested to know how I've done it..

I was very open about my surgery (although I don't mention it much to new poeple I meet) and almost everyone I mentioned it to was very supportive.  If anyone had a negative reaction, they did not mention it or show it.  Perhaps because I was SO overweight (BMI of 57).,.. or perhaps because I think it was clear that the decision was made and I was NOT open to hearing negative urban legends... and then surgery was done and I tried very hard not to make MY food restrictions an inconvenience ot anyone else.

Lora