Look, I’ve been writing about health and wellness for years now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sometimes doing everything “right” still doesn’t get you the results you need. You know what I’m talking about – the endless cycle of diets, gym memberships that collect dust after February, and that frustrating feeling when the scale just won’t budge.
Here’s the thing nobody really talks about: for some people, traditional weight loss methods aren’t enough. Not because they lack willpower or discipline, but because their body is fighting them every step of the way. I recently spoke with Perth-Based Weight Loss Surgeon Dr Stephen Watson who explained how obesity is actually a complex medical condition, not just a matter of eating less and moving more. Its tied to metabolic issues, hormones, genetics – the whole nine yards.
And that’s where things get interesting.
See, we live in this weird time where people will get laser eye surgery without batting an eye (pun intended), but mention weight loss surgery and suddenly everyone has opinions. The stigma is real. But here’s what most people don’t understand – for individuals dealing with severe obesity, surgery isn’t the easy way out. It’s often the medically necessary way forward.
The numbers tell a pretty compelling story. When someone’s dealing with a BMI over 35, especially with conditions like diabetes or sleep apnea tagging along, the success rate of diet and exercise alone drops to something like 5%. That’s not a typo. Five percent. Would you take those odds on anything else in your life?
Meanwhile, modern bariatric procedures have success rates hovering around 70-80% for significant, sustained weight loss. We’re talking about people losing 100+ pounds and keeping it off. More importantly, we’re talking about reversing diabetes, ditching the CPAP machine, and actually being able to play with their kids without getting winded.
But let me be clear – surgery isn’t magic. It’s a tool. A powerful one, sure, but still just a tool. The people who succeed long-term are the ones who use that tool as part of a complete lifestyle overhaul. They work with nutritionists, they find exercise they actually enjoy, they deal with the emotional stuff that often goes hand-in-hand with weight issues.
I think what bugs me most about the conversation around weight loss surgery is how black and white people make it. Either you’re “taking the easy way out” or you’re some kind of hero for going under the knife. The reality? It’s neither. It’s a medical decision, made between a patient and their doctor, based on individual circumstances.
The technology has come a long way too. Most procedures are done laparoscopically now – that means tiny incisions, faster recovery, less risk. We’re not talking about the major surgeries of 20 years ago. Some people are back to work in a couple weeks.
What really gets me is when I hear stories of people who waited years to even consider surgery because of what others might think. Years of struggling, years of health problems getting worse, years of missing out on life. All because we’ve somehow decided that needing medical help for a medical condition is shameful.
Here’s my take: if you’ve been fighting your weight for years and nothing’s working, have the conversation. Talk to your doctor. Get a referral to a bariatric specialist. Learn about your options. Maybe surgery’s right for you, maybe it’s not. But don’t let stigma or fear make that decision for you.
And if you’re someone who’s never struggled with significant weight issues? Maybe pump the brakes on the judgment. You wouldn’t tell someone with heart disease to just “try harder” instead of taking medication. This isn’t really any different.
The bottom line is this – health is personal. What works for one person might not work for another. And sometimes, despite our best efforts, we need medical intervention to get where we need to be. There’s no shame in that. There’s only the chance at a healthier, fuller life.
So yeah, keep eating your vegetables and hitting the gym. Those things matter. But if you’re doing all that and still struggling, know that there are other options. Real, valid, life-changing options. You just have to be willing to explore them.
Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to win some imaginary contest about who lost weight the “right” way. The goal is to be healthy, to feel good, to live the life you want to live. However you get there? That’s between you and your healthcare team.
Nobody else gets a vote.
