I have a coworker who is planning to undergo the surgery with the removable band. I’ve only known her about a year, but her weight issues appear to be from both a medical issue and poor habits. The surgery program requires that she first lose a certain amount of weight prior to the surgery, which I guess is to ensure that the patients are ready to make the committment to the lifestyle changes. They also have a rigorous medical and psychological prequalification testing and group therapy for people in all stages pre- and post- surgery.
By the charts, I am about 100 pounds overweight. In my case, it is because of my lifestyle. I have struggled with low self-esteem from childhood abuse, and while I have overcome many psychological and spiritual hurdles, the physical seems to be the biggest challenge. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. I would never consider the surgery as a quick fix. I know that the lifestyle change is required regardless, and the risks inherent to any surgery involving general anesthesia is very scary to me.
I am inclined to agree that anorexia and bulemia are looked at more sympathetically than cumpulsive overeating. But eating disorders, like most conditions that have psychological/psychiatric elements at their core, are generally taken less seriously than biologically based diseases.