Governor Chris Christie and the Lap-Band

[Alex Brecher 10,494]

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie quietly had lap-band surgery in February of 2013. As you can read in this month’s BariatricPal newsletter, recent political events have made the topic resurface, highlighting his 100-pound loss and his current weight of 320 pounds. What do you think about the issue?

• He failed because his BMI of 45 keeps him in the morbidly obese category.
• He is doing great because of his 100-pound weight loss in a year.
• It’s too soon to tell. He’ll fail if he doesn’t lose any more weight or gains it back, but the surgery will be a success if he keeps losing weight.
• I really can’t give an opinion – I do not know anything about him or his diet, and I would not want people to judge me if they didn’t know me.
• Other – Read my answer in the discussion!

Mark your answer and let us know what you think in the discussion below!

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

any loss is great...no matter how small or big.....that is my opinion

good for the governor.......hope he keeps going forward to better health

[Tikvah 70]

I think he got surgery just because of politics. I doubt he'll stick to a diet (he should've lost more than he already has) after the next election cycle in 2016.

[MIJourney 490]

I'm surprised his Dr still does lap-bands! Seems more are steering away from that surgery.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

100 pounds in a year is great, especially with all the stress, travel and functions involved with his career. Good for him!

[deaddemmama 474]

Surprised he opted for lap band with that much to lose..my surgeon recently stopped lap bands altogether because he was revising so many due to complications and failures.

[LessofApril 101]

100lbs in a year?! That's awesome. I hope he can loose the rest of his weight. We know how hard it is. I'm not a fan of his, but I certainly hope that he is successful.

[newat52 1,612]

The fact is, he lost 100 pound in a year. How on earth could that be considered a failure? He may not be at a normal BMI yet but he is far from the BMI he started at.

Doesn't matter why he did it, he took that step and no matter what one thinks of his politics, I'm sure he feeling much better. He has greatly increased the odds that he will be there longer for his wife and children.

Time will tell if he loses more or just keeps it off.

That statement applies to all of us.

Good luck to us ALL! Lord knows its not easy!

[Birthsjourney 146]

He is no different than any of us! You MUST focus on the success not the failures! 100 pounds didn't come without sacrificies of foods we all love.... Attitude Attitude here! Positive please?

[Jack 855]

impressive performance especially given the goldfish bowl environement he frequents

I've seen considerable number of criticisms of him based on nothing other than the political differences between him & the critic....which of course isn't material to the LWS issues.

If he can do well given the obstacles he faces on a daily basis....it gives *me* more encouragement too.

[PrincessErin 64]

I'm not sure why he would opt for a lapband when he has so much to lose.

[parisshel 1,892]

He started at over 400 pounds? Wow...he either photographs well, or he carries his weight well. Not that he ever looked svelte, but he certainly didn't look over 400 pounds to me.

100 pounds down in a year is awesome, and I'm sure he is feeling fantastic and more mobile.

[lynn2win 142]

He carried all his weight in his stomach and he looked 400lbs...I am surprised that he didn't opt for the sleeve with that much to lose but to each their own...but if he is going to run for president lets be honest majority of the people don't vote for heavy people last overweight president we has was Taft. jmho

[Tikvah 70]

If I would've started at 420 and only lost 100lbs (8 lbs/month) in a year, I would consider that a failure.

I've already lost 69 pounds since surgery, and that has only been 2 months and started off about 40lbs lighter than him.

[SandyM 1,956]

If I would've started at 420 and only lost 100lbs (8 lbs/month) in a year, I would consider that a failure. I've already lost 69 pounds since surgery, and that has only been 2 months and started off about 40lbs lighter than him.

Everyone loses at a different rate. 100 lbs in a year is great no matter what type of surgery you had. That's 2 lbs a week, more than that, you're probably losing muscle mass

Edited February 23, 2014 by SandyM