Hi - My husband and I read this article on MSNBC today concerning bariatric surgery. I was really bothered by the very negative tone of the article. It discusses the downside of both bypass and lapband surgery. Which it is true that there are risks and complications, AND it is true that someone who does this without making the proper life changes will not have success, it seemed that the article was surprisingly one sided and negative. It did not mention one success story. I understand trying to show the truth (risks and big lifestyle changes) as opposed to painting the surgery as a miracle cure but this seemed excessive to me.

Given that this is a 3 page article on a major news website, I felt it was really misleading and inappropriate. Am I alone in this? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Given that I have just started this path, I don't feel that I can truly argue with the author - I am not YET a success story.

How many long term success stories do we have on this site? Not one of them was available for an interview to show the other side of the coin?

Anyway, given how many people are researching the lapband to decide if it is right for them, and given how big a news agency MSNBC is, I really thought I should post this article and let actual lapband patients respond to it. That way, if someone reads the article and comes here for research, they can get a more balanced outlook.

Here is the article, thanks for reading the rant....

The miracle weight loss that isn’t - Diet and nutrition- msnbc.com

That article is obnoxious!

At least, the band was not really mentioned except in reference to having it removed. Clayverde-Thanks for pointing it out to us and supplying the link for it.

Thank you so much for your comments. I read that article and did freak out since my first Doctor Visit to discuss banding was the day before. I have researched banding and it seems that complications are few. Most people seem to have a good results like yourself and have lost and are glad they were banded. So thanks for commenting on this very negative article truly one sided. I am starting all my tests and needed items to qualify for this operation.

I read everyone's posting about the article and then decided not to read it. My mind is so focused on the positives and great things the band has done for me, that I just don't want to read what sounds like nonsense. And yes, as a few people mentioned there have been people with negative results BUT there are so many success stories....this web site is proof. I remember when I first started this journey and was finding all about the Lapband. I went to my surgeons seminar and had tears in my eyes. I then knew, the first time in my life, that THIS is what was going to do it for me. I knew that I was going to finally lose the weight I've been struggling with most of my life. And I have been doing great. I'm so happy with my band. A friend of mine recently asked me if I might have been able to lose this amnount of weight so far at Weight Watchers (I've lost 33 pounds in 7 weeks). I didn't even hesitate and said, "Absolutely not." And I then added that I would eventually go off the Weight Watchers plan and start gaining, as I did so many times. With the Lapband, this is IT! This is a lifestyle that there is no going off of it. Unless you choose to eat ice cream all day but that is just not healthy. I have to also add that when I was going for all my pre-lapband testing, I was so happy and a bit surprised to see all the smiles and hear all the positive feedback about the Band from every doctor I saw. So, just listen to your heart and try not to be influenced by negative comments or articles.