getting a gastric band at 20?

[amykg]

hey all x

so I’ve never been a slim girl but I had my dd really young (i was 17). i’ve struggled really badly with my size since then and i’ve got really overweight.

i’ve tried all the usual stuff, slimming world, slim fast, calorie counting, but haven’t found anything where i can get the weight off and keep it off.

my parents sat me down last week and told me that for my 21st birthday present that they would give me the money to have the gastric band operation if i want to do it.

I’m obviously super grateful to them for the offer and i said yes because i want to be healthy and a good role model for my dd. but now i’ve had time to think i’m wondering whether its the right decision at my age because its such a massive life choice and whether i just need to try harder losing weight myself

am i being unreasonable having second thoughts about such an amazing offer?

It’s sooo difficult isn’t it to get weight off and then to keep it off is another story, I totally agree with wexone, I don’t think you are being silly having second thoughts it’s understandable, you are very young to be considering this, but ultimately it’s your choice, you say you’ve tried slimming world etc, I did these too and got no where, I bought an Apple Watch and gave myself a time limit to lose weight and eat healthy, at first it was very hard I’m over three times your age so much harder to lose when older I started slowly and took me 5 months to lose 30 pounds boy did I feel better, slowly and surely I have days when I think got so much more to lose but I’m loving it now, I’d be trying exercise before attempting surgery, sadly nothing is a quick fix sadly

Don’t bother with a band
as soon as it’s removed if you haven’t actually changed your habits ( and most people don’t ) you will put the weight back on and more

The only thing that has ever worked for me is a gastric sleeve

6 years out and not put the weight back on
i wasn’t that overweight to start with and had it done abroad as I wasn’t fat enough for the uk 😂 only about 2.5 -3 stone but I couldn’t ever lose it

but I can lose weight very quickly now just by cutting out a few things which never worked before

The other problem you will find at your height and weight Is the after affect of lose skin
my friend was about your weight and got down to 12 stone after a GS
But then needed a full tummy tuck and lipo to remove the excess skins

strangely my other friends son had the same surgery was even heavier but doesn’t have any lose skin at all

bloody men - typical

I had a bypass at 31, best thing I ever did for my health and mental wellbeing. I lost 10 stone in the first year and have kept it off ever since.

I wish I had done it at 20, I regret my 20s so much, all I did was diet and restrict, develop binge and purge disorder and feel unhappy in my skin.

This.

Trying this would work. Trying slimming world and all that is going to do bugger all.

You’re 20 years old for goodness sake. Quit carbs unless after exercise, go easy on alcohol and cut refined sugar. Eat all the protein and good fat you like. Educate yourself around nutrition and start an achievable, sustainable exercise plan like walking for a half hour a day followed by 10 minutes weight bearing and 10 minutes stretching. Do that for 3 months and you’ll not need a gastric band.

i’ve tried all the usual stuff, slimming world, slim fast, calorie counting, but haven’t found anything where i can get the weight off and keep it off.

That's because you need a change in lifestyle habits.

I’m obviously super grateful to them for the offer and i said yes because i want to be healthy and a good role model for my dd.

A good role model in what way? If you mean with regards to healthy eating and exercise, how will the operation help you to model healthy behaviour?

Do it. I had the gastric sleeve done 3 years ago when I was 27 years old. The single best thing I've ever done. I had mine done abroad as I wasn't fat enough for the NHS. I wish I had it done sooner. Years wasted being miserable, fat and hating myself. I went from a BMI 34 to 20. I get a bit of reflux now and again but just take daily omeprazole and increase the dose on bad days. I'd do it again if offered. The younger you are, the more likely you are to recover well from surgery. Obvs do your own research but I'd seriously consider it. Don't bother with the band though too many failed ones I've heard of.

I had a mini gastric bypass with weight loss riga this year. I’m down over 5 stone. I wish I had done it years ago. Don’t hesitate- claim your life back.

Fuck me. The eat less, move more, demonise carbs brigade are here.

I’m 3 stone 8 lbs down since March last year from exercise and calorie counting. It works. You just have to be prepared to be in it for the long haul. The reason people fail with weight loss is because they want results immediately and it doesn’t work that way.
I have 1 stone left to go. I have no doubt I’ll get it as I’ve set a routine that works for me. Make a plan to suit and aid you. Don’t make it harder than it needs to be. Burn more than you consume. That’s it!

This! Surgery should really be a last chance. You need to try other things first. Having a baby doesn't automatically mean you gain weight. What is really stoping you from losing weight? Maybe your parents could help with childcare so you can exercise for example?

Have you had therapy @amykg? There's no point dieting (or even having surgery) unless you deal with the reasons behind the habits which have lead to the weight gain. Seriously, spend some money fixing the cause (the psychology behind your lifestyle choices) rather than focussing on the symptoms (the weight gain).

Fuck me. The eat less, move more, demonise carbs brigade are here.

Taking the piss doesn't make the PP's post less valid though.

My friend’s daughter had it done age 23 after 2 years of counselling etc as it was done in the NHS. A couple of years on she’s kept the weight of and seems very healthy and happy.
I know another woman who had it done in her early 40’s again under the NHS who has put all the weight she lost back on.
I think it will work if you want to be a healthier weight more than anything as they both said the process is hard work.

You will get a lot of rubbish from people who don’t have weight issues on this thread. Some of the responses are disgusting.
The chances of you losing the amount of weight you need to to be healthy and keeping it off are virtually non existent without surgery. Come and read the bariatric surgery threads we are are lot less judgmental over there.

Absolutely unnecessary and utterly unhelpful

OP - do some research around types of surgery, I had a sleeve in December and I'm 5 stone down, I wish I'd done it years ago. That said, it isn't the right choice for everyone.
The band has awful, potentially horrific outcomes, most health authorities won't even offer a band any more - with good reasons.

Good luck!

The chances of you losing the amount of weight you need to to be healthy and keeping it off are virtually non existent without surgery.
I don't think that's true unless you have been obese for many years. From what the OP says, it sounds more like it dates back to her pregnancy in which case it is more likely to be due to lifestyle and could be reversed. I'm not against surgery per se but surely it is better to consider other options?

As others have said, Ozempic / Wegovy is now approved as a treatment of obesity and there are other newer GLP1 agonist medications (such as mounjaro) that are even more effective for weight loss. It is likely there will be more innovation in medical obesity treatments in the next few years and give the same results as surgery.

As a recently diagnosed (a week ago) type 2 diabetic I have read about this with interest, sadly there is thyroid cancer in my family and the risks listed about it have put me off. I am just basically eating fruit, veg and protein which is so boring, so I feel your pain, (I also have very high chloesterol and non-alcoholic fatty liver) so have to eat, low car, low far and low sugar which feels very hard but I have lost 5 pounds since last week ( started at 14 stone 4 and BMI of 35)

I have set myself a challenge to lose 10 pounds a month, if you want a diet buddy I would be up for it :)

The chances of you losing the amount of weight you need to to be healthy and keeping it off are virtually non existent without surgery.

That's a ridiculous (and arguably dangerous) thing to tell a 20 year old!

OP, this really isn't the right place (no matter which MN topic you choose).

Please seek medical advice and not the advice of internet randoms.

of course i’m going to get actual medical advice. i was asking for opinions and views on here, that doesn’t mean I’m then suddenly going to have an operation without getting full advice from a doctor.

i honestly don’t know why some people bother with the ‘eat less exercise more’ advice. if it were that simple then nobody would be overweight. what do you get out of it other than making yourself feel clever?

Why is it ridiculous? Look up the stats. All studies show that once you are morbidly obese the chances of maintaining a healthy weight are almost zero. You might prefer to keep telling overweight people that they just need to ‘eat less and move more’ but it isn’t realistic. The surgery is much safer than being obese.

Have you seen your GP? I think surgery should be a last resort. Your GP may have (or be able to recommend) a scheme where you are monitored for your progress in losing weight as well as keeping healthy. Sudden weight loss is not good for your body. I'm not sure how long you have tried other methods, but as you are 20, it won't have been for many years. Do you think perhaps you have problems sticking to a scheme? Some days you will follow a programme, but others you will not be so successful. Don't give up! You need to consider a lifestyle change; having surgery in itself will not deal with the root cause of the problem. Are you perhaps not as overweight as you think? Please see you GP for advice; surgery is a drastic option for one so young.

Wishing you well.

This. Evidence is that if you are obese at or after puberty it's very very difficult (and almost impossible) to successfully lose weight permanently without surgery.
Go and see your GP op but they'll almost certainly tell you to explore surgical options.
Good luck.

But also....
If you're really 5ft 2in and 20 stone then your BMI is 51.5.
There is no part of the UK (England/Wales - I don't know about Scotland or NI to be fair) where you wouldn't be eligible for NHS surgery.
Your parents obviously love and care for you but their money might be best kept for something else.
It's definitely worth exploring the NHS route...