can I get a gastric band if I am only slightly overweight?

Question

I am a compulsive eater who yo yo diets and I want to stop this cycle

Answer 1

So you would have surgery, a scar, the risk of the procedure, and a hefty doctor's bill when you're going to just have to follow a special diet in the end anyway? Why not skip all the risks and expense of surgery and just go with the diet they'd put you on if you did have the surgery?

A friend of mine who was morbidly obese (a medical term, by the way... and she was about 200 lbs overweight) had surgery... it wasn't pretty. She did lose weight, but she had a special diet that wasn't at all appetizing and required massive amounts of supplements to be nutritious enough. The scarring wasn't much to look at either. Banding has a much smaller scar, but it's still visible.

It may take a little more discipline, but you can do it on your own without the surgery. The band doesn't make you lose the weight... the diet does. Avoid processed foods and eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, walk a mile or two a day, and drink lots of water... you'll lose all the weight you need to lose.

Answer 2

No, my auntie has just had on fited and you have to be obese to get one. But even then you have to change you eating habits and excercise. As sometimes your gastric band can strech so you can eat as much as you want again. So i suggest you go to weight watchers i was slightly over weight and on weight watchers i lost a stone i 3 months and i could eat basically what i wanted. Gastric bands are more trouble than there worth.

Answer 3

You should speak to a doctor. If you are only slightly overweight you shouldn't need to take such drastic measures. A simple diet and exercise program should suffice. However, if you are only slightly overweight but you know that you constantly overeat and then purge (Bulimia) you should know that gastric bands won't change your desire to overeat, just your ability.

Answer 4

dont do it if you are slightly overweight, take action now, but nothing so drastic, do it with healthy diet and exercise, if you find you still have problems, there are appetite suppresants,available, although the healthy option is reccommended, i would rather take apetite suppresants to help, than that, reductil, subutramine, or xenical are a few of the medications available, to help with weight loss but if you are only slightly overweight,these may not be reccommended but less drastic than your gastric band in mind.

Answer 5

Any doctor I have talked to will not do this surgery unless your Body Mass Index (BMI) is at least 36. I wish I could get it too, but my doctor says I don't qualify. I know it's not easy, but try eating a sensible diet (from the junk-food queen" :) such as Weight Watchers. They're in the phone book, and a toll-free number. The food is excellant and you can eat what you wouldn't believe! Good luck!

Answer 6

so let me get this straight...

You're only "slightly" overweight, and you want a surgery with very real, very serious potential side effects (including DEATH)??

Worse yet, after you get the band, guess what? You gotta eat right, exercise, etc etc... in other words, all the things you can't seem to do now!!!!

Answer 7

Follow the 80/20 rule, which means eating clean 80 percent almost daily and indulging a little 20 percent of times.

Answer 8

you are only elligible for a weight loss surgury if you are morbidly obese and have a tleast two weight related health problems. diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure.... you best bet is to find a way to increase your activity. turn off the computer and walk to the corner store and carry home two 2 litre bottle for tomorrow's party! (diet drinks)

Answer 9

Take time once a 7 days to plan out and go shopping for meals and snacks so you are prepared whenever hunger strikes.

Answer 10

Aim for a 300- in order to 400-calorie meal.