Having a gastric band fitted in order to lose weight may seem like a drastic step. But for many people who have repeatedly tried and failed to lose weight, it can seem like the only option.
As more and more overweight people investigate surgery as a solution to their weight problem, we ask is a gastric band the answer?
Yes – Paul
Having a gastric band fitted was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve been overweight my entire life and I’ve tried countless diets to try and get my weight under control but nothing worked. Whenever I began a new diet, I’d lose a bit of weight but after a couple of months I’d start putting it all back on until I was even heavier than before.
The decision to get a gastric band wasn’t one I took lightly but eventually I realised that traditional dieting simply wasn’t going to work for me. I’d got to the point where I was almost 20 stone overweight. I couldn’t work, had no social life and I was unable to walk more than a few steps at a time, so exercise was out of the question. I was completely miserable and felt ashamed of myself for being so overweight.
The gastric band has changed my life. Because I can only eat tiny amounts of food, I’m no longer tempted to overeat. In just over two years, I’ve lost 15 stone. I feel so much better, I’ve got a job for the first time in years and can socialise with my friends. Now that I’ve lost so much weight, I enjoy exercising and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
No – Shanice
After years of dieting, I’m finally getting my weight under control by following a healthy eating plan. A couple of my friends have had gastric bands fitted and after seeing what they have gone through, it’s not an option I would consider.
Both of my friends have had difficulty getting used to the gastric bands. They’ve had problems with painful indigestion and often struggle to eat anything. And getting a band isn’t a miracle cure – you won’t lose weight overnight and my friends have been disappointed with how long the process is taking. Because they are eating so little, I worry that they are not getting all the nutrients they need. And of course, it’s made socialising difficult – they can no longer go out for a meal and have lost interest in cooking for their families.
Surgery is always dangerous but particularly if you are overweight, so the decision to have a gastric band fitted shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Having seen the problems my friends have faced, I decided to join a weight loss club in my local area. I’ve learnt how to eat healthily and in the past year I’ve lost 5 stone. I’m determined to show my friends that it is possible to lose weight permanently without having to resort to dangerous surgery.