Obesity is a widespread problem that affects people of all ages, races, and income levels, including public figures who suffer under the glare of media scrutiny. Fortunately, there is a solution for obesity and the complications it causes. Bariatric surgery is safer and more effective than ever, and many high-profile people have benefited from its life-changing effects.
If you struggle with obesity and are considering weight loss surgery, these ten famous success stories may inspire you to take the next step toward a happier, healthier life.
(Source: Peter Kramer, AP)
Al Roker
In the early 2000’s, Today Show weatherman Al Roker was one of the most famous faces of gastric bypass surgery. He shed more than 100 pounds in just eight months and has kept it off ever since, putting years of binge eating and erratic weight changes behind him. Roker described his struggle with obesity and his post-op transformation in a 2013 memoir. After gaining back 40 pounds, Roker admitted he should have taken his doctor’s advice to join a weight loss support group after his surgery.
(Source: Jason Merritt/Getty)
Sharon Osbourne
Before Sharon Osbourne became the original matriarch of reality TV, she was a self-proclaimed food addict who lost at least 100 pounds after receiving a gastric band. She is currently a host and panelist on The Talk, where she is open about her past struggles to control her portion sizes and exercise regularly. Sharon’s daughter Kelly learned from her mom’s example that weight loss requires a complete and permanent “life change”.
(Source: http://news.health.com)
Randy Jackson
American Idol judge Randy Jackson was so sick of struggling with obesity that he tried bee stings, liquid diets, and other desperate weight loss gimmicks before eventually turning to a more effective solution: gastric bypass surgery. Jackson’s weight peaked at 350 pounds and caused him to develop type 2 diabetes, but he started losing weight before his 2003 procedure, and he now weighs less than 250 pounds. Jackson even wrote a book about avoiding cholesterol and sugar.
(Source:http://www.lifenews.com)
Chris Christie
Pundits and political rivals poked fun at New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s weight for years. In 2013, he had the final laugh when he revealed the results of a life-changing lap band surgery. Christie later expressed regret for waiting so long to schedule the procedure, and joked that his cardiologist’s campaign donation was proof that his post-op prognosis was excellent.
(Source:Lou Rocco/ABC)
Rosie O’Donnell
Talk show host and comedian Rosie O’Donnell gained weight in the public eye (more than 30 pounds after landing her own talk show). After she having an obesity-related heart attack in 2012, and trying to lose weight through diet and exercise changes, Rosie underwent a vertical gastric sleeve surgery in July 2013. Before the operation, she weighed 230 pounds. Within six months, she had lost 40 pounds. By 2015, Rosie’s 64-pound weight loss reversed her sleep apnea and made her feel “freer” to play with her children.
(Source:www.sheknows.com)
Star Jones
Weight loss surgery has transformed the lives of at least two hosts on The View. After Star Jones had a gastric bypass in 2003, she lost 160 pounds in just three years. Viewers noticed her slimmer appearance, which she maintained by exercising and eating smaller portions, and she finally opened up about the procedure in 2006.
(Source: Ben Cohen/NBC)
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr shed her iconic character’s extra weight when she had a gastric bypass in 1998. Since then, Barr has lost more than 100 pounds and continues to stay fit and fashionable into her sixties.
(Source: Jim Spellman/WireImage)
Lisa Lampanelli
For comedian Lisa Lampanelli, the health risks of obesity were no laughing matter. She had weight loss surgery in 2012 and has lost more than 100 pounds since the procedure. According to Lisa, her post-op lifestyle is healthier because it doesn’t include emotional eating.
(Source: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty)
Carnie Wilson
After shooting to fame as a member of the family pop act Wilson Phillips, Carnie Wilson turned to eating for emotional comfort and grew to a size 28. She made history by streaming her gastric bypass surgery online in 2000, after which her weight fell from 300 to less than 150 pounds. Carnie later gained weight while pregnant and underwent a lap band procedure in 2012, losing 30 pounds in the first few months.
(Source: KLRU photo by Scott Newton)
Etta James
Before her death in 2012, soul legend Etta James reached a weight of 400 pounds and took Roseanne Barr’s advice to get a gastric bypass. After the 2000 procedure, Etta lost more than 200 pounds and gushed about her ability to shop for off-the-rack clothes instead of ordering custom sizes.
For these proactive celebrities, fame and wealth could not make up for the problems caused by obesity. If you want to take direct action toward your weight loss goals, follow their lead and look into our bariatric surgery options at Angeles Health.
