Carnie Wilson was one of the first celebrities to have gastric bypass surgery. Her weight-loss procedure was performed live on the Internet in August of 1999 before 50,000 viewers.
I can only assume that being in the spotlight is difficult even under the best conditions. I also assume that the best conditions are fleeting and people sometimes fail. Carnie Wilson has had her share of falls.
Wilson is as imperfect as the rest of us, although her imperfections are open to public scrutiny. Many celebrities are tied to similar circumstances. I suspect they were at least partially aware of the price of fame.
Many people dislike celebrity at any given moment. Carnie Wilson is a celebrity. Her struggles with her weight are well-publicized, and the critiques have sometimes been harsh. It must be difficult and hurtful, and I admire her fortitude.
The Need for Weight-Loss Surgery
Carnie Wilson weighed 300 pounds prior to her gastric bypass surgery. She was pre-diabetic, had slipped discs in her back, and suffered from chronic headaches. Her liver was enlarged and toxic, and she had sleep apnea. Her cholesterol and blood pressure were elevated. Dieting changed nothing.
Wilson would lose half of her body weight following bariatric surgery, about 150 pounds.
She advocated for weight-loss surgery after her operation and helped educate the public about the procedure.
Carnie Wilson Has Second Surgery
Wilson publicly acknowledged that maintaining an appropriate weight is a struggle and that she had gained back two-thirds of her weight. Her blood-sugar levels began to rise, and fear of diabetes prompted her decision to have Lap-Band surgery. Commonly referred to as “band-over-bypass” the LAP-Band is used to further restrict the volume of food that the gastric bypass pouch is able to hold.
You may view a Lap-Band surgery being performed on YouTube.
Wilson cites the birth of her two children as contributing to her weight gain.
Obesity is a Disease
Carnie Wilson has been subject to criticism both before and after her surgeries. Some are critical because they have stereotypical views about obesity and think that those who are obese do not have willpower and are lazy. Many cannot accept obesity as an illness.
Obesity is recognized as a disease by such medical associations as the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO). Even the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agrees that obesity is a disease.
Obesity is a chronic, metabolic, and progressive illness with a genetic predisposition. The scientific community believes there are oevr 1,000 genes related to weight. About 200 have been discovered.
Although Bariatric surgery has significantly improved the lives and health of many people, there is no magic in the procedure. It should not be viewed as an alternative to the lifestyle changes that are necessary such as proper nutrition and exercise. Bariatric surgery is a tool that can help people become more successful in changing their lifestyles.
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
