Rosie O’Donnell Makes Hurtful Comments About the Lap-Band on “The View”
Ms. O’Donnell herself is a gastric sleeve patient who had struggled with her weight throughout her professional life. She got the procedure done in July of 2013, and has since lost about 50 pounds.
Upsetting Effects of Ms. O’Donnell’s Words
Ms. O’Donnell not only insulted Governor Christie, but also every lap-band patient. She stated outright that the lap-band has a 50 percent rate of removal, and is an inefficient way to lose weight. She strongly implied that anyone who gets the lap-band chooses to do so because they haven’t done enough research.
This kind of divisiveness between weight loss surgery patients is harmful to everyone who is affected by obesity. Weight loss surgery can literally save lives and give people back their quality of life. It can be the only way to lose weight for many people. The only way to improve weight loss surgery outcomes and acceptance is to provide a unified front. When someone like Ms. O’Donnell bashes lap-band surgery, it only adds to the public’s general misconception of weight loss surgery as a foolish choice.
The Lap-Band Is a Good Choice for Many
The gastric sleeve is the right choice for some weight loss surgery patients, and it may have been the right choice for Ms. O’Donnell. For other patients, the lap-band is the right choice – and, in contrast to Ms. O’Donnell’s accusations, they can arrive at that decision after careful research. They may be hesitant to permanently remove most of the stomach, as in the gastric sleeve, and may value the ability to adjust their bands.
There’s no shortage of evidence that the lap-band can work. In fact, it may even be working for Governor Christie! He will not publicly discuss specific numbers, but he’s clearly lost weight since getting the lap-band in February of 2013. Rumor has it he’s down 85 pounds, but he hasn’t confirmed this amount.
A Better Choice of Words
Ms. O’Donnell is certainly entitled to her opinion, but it doesn’t seem necessary for an influential celebrity to insult all lap-band patients in front of millions of viewers on national television.
- She could easily have praised the gastric sleeve and all that it has done for her without bashing the lap-band.
- She could have discussed why she chose the sleeve over the lap-band and gastric bypass.
- She could have praised Governor Christie for his weight loss without insulting his choice of weight loss surgery.
How Can “The View” Make Amends?
“The View” could have handled the situation a little differently. The show could have done something as simple as asking Ms. O’Donnell for evidence for her claims. For example, where did she learn that half of all lap-bands are removed? That flies in the face of what patients learn from their surgeons, who spend years studying the lap-band and other types of weight loss surgery.
There’s still time to make amends and show weight loss surgery patients some respect. “The View” could dedicate a segment of a future show to discussing weight loss surgery more accurately. Any number of bariatric surgeons and allied health professionals could serve as credible guests in an informative interview.
Make Your Voice Heard!
What you think matters to Hollywood celebrities and TV shows. Their success depends on your approval and continued support. If you want to weigh in on how you feel about Ms. O’Donnell’s insensitive comment about the lap-band, why not tell her and “The View” what you’re thinking? You can tweet them at @Rosie and @theviewTV to explain how hurtful her words were. They’re on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RosieODonnellOfficial and https://www.facebook.com/TheView.
Ms. O’Donnell may benefit from learning that the lap-band is a good choice for some weight loss surgery patients, and “The View” may learn that the show needs to take responsibility for presenting a more accurate picture of this – and any other – sensitive topic.
Alex Brecher
I am a native New Yorker who loves spending time with my children and working out at the gym.
I had struggled with my weight my whole life. Diets worked for me until I went off them and gained back more weight each time. Finally, a friend who used to be obese told me that he had gotten weight loss surgery. I could see how great he looked, and I got weight loss surgery in 2003. Thankfully, I can say that I have never looked back. It helped me lose more than 100 lbs. and keep the weight off since 2003.
I am the founder of BariatricPal and proud of everything that it means to the entire weight loss surgery community. Together, we can fight obesity and work toward living healthier lifestyles!
You can view The BIG Books on Weight Loss Surgery book series at the BariatricPal Store.
It is worth bothering labwalker. You know why? Because like you said, it's a small but vocal minority. As a fellow successful bandster, I think it's our obligation to stick around so other folks who want to be banded same as us, have our experiences to draw from.
When I was still waiting for surgery, and terrified of what the future would bring, I found this site and read everything I could from successful bandsters. I am so grateful to folks like Missy and CG who helped me every step of the way along with many others.
I'm paying it forward and all of us who understand that bandsters choose this procedure to avoid more invasive procedures need advocates on this site. Please don't leave.
Liz
Labwalker - I completely understand your feelings. I loved the old Lap Band Talk site, and though at times there was bickering about various things, it was never about which surgery, who's doctor has better credentials, etc. It was a lap band group, and we were all part of that same "club". I too wish the surgeries weren't combined, but now.....it is what it is. Though very frustrating at times, it's still a good place to come for support. Even if not support, just nice interaction with others who share the struggles, fight the fight, etc.
A few of the comments by sleeved patients in the thread were ridiculous. Worthless, actually. It makes no sense to trash others surgical path, who are seeking to improve their health, etc. The babble about archaic procedures and lack of personal research, can only come from those who are insecure at their core, and have to beat their chest like a gorilla in the wild. As I stated in my above post, there is absolutely no debate. We all moved forward with the surgical route, and chose procedures we deemed the best for us.....for WHATEVER the reason.
Lab - please stick around. I get into moods like this too....like you feel this morning. It is frustrating at times, but there was bickering on Lap Band Talk, too. Get a lot of different people together, and it's going to happen. When I start to feel the bile rising after reading some stupid s-hit, I click to a different thread; just walk away :-)
Edited by mrsto
when i heard rosie "mention" her negative opinions about the lapband
my jaw dropped in amazement, and i did a double take in disbelief 
irresponsible to make such a statement to the public 
everyone has the right to have their own thoughts about WLS
there is freedom of speach
freedom to be ignorant/irresponsible??? 
rosie if you are listening
you really screwed up
100 whips with a wet noodle 
kathy
Edited by proudgrammy
@@labwalker I'm sorry you feel this way. I don't think that most of the people who say negative things about lap-band mean to be offensive or "on the attack". Obviously all of us chose the surgery that we felt was best for us and therefor we had reasons for NOT choosing the other options. For every down-side to band, there are down-sides to the other options as well and I think this thread has just created a dialog about the down-sides of band. Someone who has been banded could just as easily come on here and list some of the down-sides of VSG, such as the fact it's not reversible or the fact that it hasn't been around long enough to have strong outcome data available. But, that's not what this thread was about, so it maybe feels like everyone is "piling on" about the down-sides of band.
I am actually VERY grateful that we have a site for all of the WLS options, because it really helped me when researching and reading accounts from people who have experienced all of the procedures. I also think that by-an-large, we are ONE community as we all have shared experiences, no matter which WLS we've chosen. I hope you won't let some of the comments in this one thread deter you from participating on these boards in the future.
Three things.
My surgeon offered me sleeve, but fully supported my choice for LapBand. My reasons were many, and he enthusiastically continues to band many patients every year. In my opinion you should choose a surgeon and surgery that both of you are excited about. If my surgeon was lukewarm about my chances, I would have run out the door. Instead I know he's there for not just me, but for many future banded patients as well.
Second, I hate these personal comments about celebrities. I am sure some celebrities are on this site under anonymous names just like I am. They are here for the same reasons I am. I don't mind when someone disagrees with a celebrity's public WORDS, but for Pete's sake, stop the name calling.
Third, I enjoy healthy contrast-and-compare dialog about the different surgeries. I learn here daily, and I never know if my life will include changes down the road. But your surgery is no better or worse than mine. My surgeon and I are thrilled with my outcome so far. And don't kid yourself folks. It is "so far" for all of us, no matter what road we chose. When we are at the end of our lives and face THOSE new medical uncertainties, we can then decide if we chose the right WLS all these years earlier. But I respect your choice today, and if you don't respect mine, please just shut up about it.
I'm here for support and learning. I can learn from your trials and successes and feel free to learn from mine. Keep this a welcoming place for all.
labwalker 1,177
Posted (edited)
Quite frankly, some (a very vocal and small minority) of the VSG members of this forum have been as ignorant and hurtful as those expressed on the View, far beyond the damage done by Rosie.
This is a support group. No one cares what your surgeon opinions are or were. From some of the comments that were allegedly made by surgeons, I'd seriously wonder why anyone would ever consider having surgery done by that group or practice? Dated opinions based on archaic surgical practices and devices has nothing to do with efficacy of lab band procedures being done in this current decade by competent surgeons. As I noted, I can quote questionable sites that diss other procedures... what does that prove??
I honestly think Alex made a major gaff in combining the various WLS platforms into on group. It is painfully obvious that a fEW VSG patients chose to be smug and ignorant and are here to demean anyone who has chosen alternative surgeries, regardless of there effectiveness. I wonder if it is even worth bothering with this site... if anyone can recommend a site that only deals with lap band patients, I'd appreciate the link.
Edited by labwalkerShare this comment
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