And what was this "landmark study" you might ask? They fed mice lard and then tested, and only the ones which were fat, had the "markers" for cancer. Huh? Are people supposed to believe this would apply to humans?
Although we might have our suspicions about some humans, I can safely say we are NOT mice and a mouse GI tract barely resembles a human GI tract, if at all, and also, the mice which got fat, didn't get cancer -they only "had the markers" for cancer which means they might or might not get cancer by the time their short lives are ended.
If that's not questionable enough, try the the following study - the headline on this was about how Weight Loss surgery "cures" diabetes. This study was on humans however, among those who had had a gastric bypass (which forces starvation for the first couple of years - starvation will always bring blood sugar levels down), barely more than 1/3 of the patients saw a remission, even in the first three years after surgery.
I wouldn't call those results impressive, especially considering that gastric bypass is so invasive. Among patients who had the sleeve gastrectomy, the popular "surgery du jour" which only reduces the stomach (to the size of a thumb and about twice as long as a thumb), only 25% experienced a remission of their diabetes in the first three years. Keeping in mind that without a stomach, digestion of fats and proteins is basically, not happening and patients must for the rest of their lives, consume protein drinks which are expensive, not paid by insurance and not good tasting to avoid protein deficiency diseases which have not been seen since the 1800's... they should also take B12 shots at least once a week since a greatly reduced stomach likely no longer digests vitamin B12 which can cause many and varied problems.... this doesn't seem worth the expense and pain of surgery for the small number of remissions of diabetes early on.
In a buyer, seller's society, consumers must be careful of what they buy -to avoid the myths seen on TV etc - and sadly, for post ops who experience one of the many complications, there is little available to support them.
Definitely, "buyer beware!" or...
If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't...
5 comments:
Yahoo! is not known for it's comments by people who support anything close to size acceptance or HAES.
When they printed the article about the whole "WLS cures diabetes" crap, I commented, pointing out that it's hard to trust a study done by a place that makes money off of the surgery. Imagine my surprise when my comment was met with approval! There were a few who insisted that the alleged "health benefits" made the study real, but most seemed to realize that the whole WLS racket is just a big money wheel, producing studies that support them being able to make more money from the surgery.
I don't want to be rude, but it is very misleading when you say "without a stomach.." It implies that the gastric sleeve involves removing the stomach. Also, I have talked to numerous doctors about what size the stomach is after. I have been told consistently that they remove between 70 and 80% of the stomach and that what is left is slightly smaller than a banana. Can you point me to where I can find the information your sharing about the surgery, because I honestly can't find it. I'm not trying to be off-putting, I just want to make sure I have all of the correct information!
To Okaykatelyn, Size of stomach differs but they found unless they cut the stomach really tiny in the gastric sleeve (as I put in my article) the sleeve doesn't work at all because the stomach stretches. So most surgeons remove 95% of the stomach but that may not be what they tell prospective clients! Look, to be honest, the surgery we need is IN THE BRAIN and disabling the digestive tract only causes grief and not PERMANENT weight loss! Recently on a weight loss surgery listserve, a lady remarked that she knew more folks who had failed with weight loss surgery than who had kept off the weight and stayed healthy. The official stats are 7% keep off the weight with weight loss surgery and 5% can keep off the weight without surgery so is that really worth risking your life to go under the knife? I've kept off 101 lbs for 4.5 years using Weight Watchers and NO SURGERY but I notice those who keep off the weight with surgery do EXACTLY what I do, journal food, weigh portions and fight a daily battle. That's reality...
I sent your other comment but it didn't make it -- you asked if I knew anyone who had died after the sleeve - the answer is yes and I just recently heard of a person who died after that surgery - surgery is a big risk especially for a clinically obese person! They often will NOT OK such a person for new knee joints which is not nearly as invasive as cutting up the digestive system but then they do weight loss surgery on the same person - doesn't make sense. Ask the surgeons at the seminars how many successful patients they know after 10 years - some of them get really defensive... :)
Joy Mortin writes: "HI Nice Blog About Weight Loss Surgery."
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