Gastric bypass. Please help my friend out. T_T?

Question

this is my roommate/close friend http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v184/74/59/726715449/n726715449_856765_8397.jpg

She's been working RIGOROUSLY on a diet and workout regime with a private trainer and everything but recently, her STUPID doctor talked her family into trying to get her to undergo gastric bypass at the age of 19!!!! What on earth?! I told her she was making progress in her workout and diet (because she really was) and when I looked up gastric bypass, the dangers seem to outweigh the risks! Should the doctor be telling her to go through with this? There is like a 1/3 chance that she'll develop gallstones, anemia, or osteoporosis as well as a bunch of other things! there's even a 1.5% change that she'll DIE! Am I over reacting or is the doctor just stupid? I want to talk her into talking her parents out of it. o_O Am I minding her business too much? I really like her and idk...*sighs* help?

Answer 1

You did not reveal the weight of your friend.  However,  if she is morbidly obese-  the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, death, heart attack, and stroke more than outweigh the risks of gastric bypass.   Your friend also has other options- the new lap band is a safer surgical procedure for weight loss.  And it is reversible.   The lap band has a donut type device that goes around the top of the stomach.  The doctor can inject saline into the donut to tighten it, or take saline out to allow for more eating.  You mentioned the 1.5 percent chance of death.  Out of those people- they probably already had the co-morbidities that I mentioned above which would have complicated the healing process.    

Answer 2

she can look at gastric band also.  Often overeating is part of a behavior problem due to low self esteem or sometimes PTSD or a compulsive disorder.  She should get counseling first to discuss why she eats and quits the workouts.  It is better than a drastic measure that is not revers able.