Original Air Date:
Monday, February 4, 2008
Cassie's Gastric Banding Surgery Story:
At 13, Cassie already weighed 220 pounds and was causing concern in her mother. Cassie's mom, Jennifer, described how rapidly she was putting weight on and how she has stopped doing the things she loved and was starting to get teased. Instead of opting for years of weight gain and humiliation, Jennifer took Cassie to Tijuana, Mexico to have gastric banding surgery. While the FDA does not approve this surgery for children in the US, Jennifer was able to take Cassie to Mexico where it is legal. 4 years after surgery, Cassie is 17 and weighs 141 pounds and feels happy with her results.
A Doctor's Opinion on Weight Loss Surgery in Children:
Dr. Diana Farmer, from UCSF Children's Hospital, shared why she is against children having weight loss surgery. Dr. Farmer pointed out that kids are not dying from obesity at or before 18, therefore they should weight until they are adults to decide - instead of having parents choose for their children. Having a permanent anatomy change, long-term implications and using surgery as a solution are a few of the concerns Dr. Farmer has for children getting this procedure done. Dr. Farmer offered that children are not ready to make decisions that will affect them for the rest of their life.
MacGregor's Gastric Banding Surgery Story:
As a child, MacGregor began to put on weight at the rate of 50 pounds a year. His parents sent him to a weight loss camp at 12 where he went from 250 pounds down to 200, but when he returned home, he gained the weight back within a month. When MacGregor hit 360 pounds, his mother started to research surgery options to save her son's life. She found a gastric banding for teens study being done by the University of Illinois and was able to get MacGregor into the program. MacGregor had to prepare for 6 months before having the surgery, but a year after he had lost over 150 pounds and now feels better about himself.
Kylie's Gastric Bypass Surgery Story:
When Kylie began to lose her eyesight due to her obesity at 17, she decided to have gastric bypass surgery to prevent further damage. When Kylie had her operation, she weighed more than 250 pounds. Right after surgery, she was limited to clear liquids for 2 weeks: Jell-O, chicken broth, sugar-free Popsicles, etc. - she then moved to solid foods after a month. Now Kylie weighs 120 pounds less, but is still struggling to get back to a normal life. After being used to dieting, Kylie has trouble when her doctors say she doesn't have to eat low-fat foods. She now has to deal with the psychological issues.
Nathaniel's Gastric Bypass Surgery Story:
Nathaniel is a high school senior who had gastric bypass surgery just days before the show. Oprah's cameras were in the OR with Nathaniel before his procedure to reduce his weight from 340 pounds, but also to eliminate his health issues of acid reflux, sleep apnea, and borderline diabetes. Dr. Brandt, Nathaniel's surgeon, was on the show to share that he did well with his surgery and had already lost 14 pounds in 9 days. She expects him to lose 30 pounds in his first month. While Dr. Brandt performs weight loss surgery on teens, she still is concerned about their future consequences.
Kendall's Gastric Bypass Surgery Story:
Kendall first appeared on the Oprah Show in 2004 at 17 after she had gastric bypass surgery. At that time, Kendall had lost 145 of her 265 pounds and was happy and confident. Kendall is now 21 and had maintained her weight loss, but switched her addition to food into an addiction to alcohol. Kendall realized what was happening when she watched and Oprah episode on addiction transfer. Kendall did not receive the psychological preparation and thought that surgery would be the solution to her problems. After losing friends from drinking she is seeking help to deal with what made her eat in the first place.
Weight Loss Without Surgery - Whitney's Story:
At 14, Whitney weighed 230 pounds and decided to make a change, but not with weight loss surgery. Whitney researched health, diet and exercise and started walking and eventually running every day. She also took the initiative to change her diet and the kinds of food her family kept in their home. After a year, Whitney had lost over 100 pounds and was featured in Seventeen Magazine as one of the "Best-Tressed Girls in America" at 16. Whitney is confident and happy with herself and her decision to lose her excess weight naturally.
