Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Many Americans Choosing to Slim Down Surgically

Aired January 14, 2003 - 07:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to turn our attention to a kind of surgery that's getting done more and more often these days. With nearly 20 percent of the population considered obese and six million people at least 100 pounds overweight, perhaps it's no surprise that many Americans are choosing to slim down surgically. The most sought after procedure, gastric bypass, has become something of a medical phenomenon.
Doctors at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston say they are overwhelmed by the demand for the surgery.

Let's find out why.

Dr. Scott Shikora is a surgeon there and Debbie Loma Lee is scheduled to undergo a gastric bypass at the end of the month.

They both join us from Boston this morning.

Good morning.

Glad to see both of you.

DR. SCOTT SHIKORA, TUFTS-NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL CENTER: Good morning.

DEBBIE LOMBA LEE, GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENT: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: Dr. Shikora, we just talked about the demand at your hospital. Do you see this as a local trend or part of a national phenomenon?

SHIKORA: It's a national phenomenon because of the increase in obesity throughout society and the popularity of the operation.

ZAHN: And why do you think that's the case?

SHIKORA: Well, because society now understands that obesity is a high risk condition and that these procedures are more effective and safer so that we could offer it to more patients.

ZAHN: How much does it cost?

SHIKORA: It will vary from different areas in the country, but anywhere from $12,000 to $20,000 I would think.

ZAHN: And that's well worth it, Debbie?

LOMBA LEE: Oh, definitely.

ZAHN: Now, I understand you yoyo dieted for years.

LOMBA LEE: Yes.

ZAHN: What made you finally decide to go ahead with this kind of surgery? I know you're scheduled for the end of the month.

LOMBA LEE: Well, I think just the fact that doing so many different diets you go up and down, up and down. And I think that this was just something that was available to me to give me a jump start on trying to start all over again.

ZAHN: Debbie, as know, there have been a lot of high profile people that have gotten this done recently. We have pictures of Carney Wilson before and after, Al Roker before and after, and Representative Jerry Nadler, who also did the surgery. Did that help encourage you to go through with the surgery?

LOMBA LEE: Well, I think the first one that did was Connie Wilson. When I actually saw the photos of her before and after, it really got me to thinking. And so I put my name on the list.

ZAHN: And I understand your brother has also had this surgery. How is he doing? How much weight has he lost?

LOMBA LEE: Well, Dr. Shikora did the procedure on September 30th and I guess, I think he was in last week for a checkup and he's lost 126 pounds so far.

ZAHN: Is he...

LOMBA LEE: And you can really see the difference in him.

ZAHN: So he feels better. Is he exercising like crazy, too, to make sure he keeps it off?

LOMBA LEE: Well, he's not exercising like crazy, but he has increased his mobility.

ZAHN: That's great.

LOMBA LEE: He is exercising some, really, yes.

ZAHN: Dr. Shikora, I guess the most overwhelming thing is that statistic we used at the top of your introduction, that there are some six million people in this country that are at least 100 pounds overweight. Who do you blame for the cycle of obesity?

SHIKORA: Well, first, I've heard that the number was closer to 14 million as opposed to six million. And I think it's multi- factorial. It's fast food, it's Internet, it's cable television, where you have satellites and hundreds of channels to watch, lack of physical activity, the more sedentary lifestyle that we live.

ZAHN: And Dr. Shikora, before we let you go, just explain to people what risks they might have to face if they decide to go through and do what Debbie is going to do down the road here.

SHIKORA: Well, even though these operations are becoming more popular, safer and more effective, they're still major surgery. And there's risks of infections, of hemorrhage, of organ injury, blood clots. And sometimes patients even can die from the complications of the surgery. So patients have to consider the surgery very, very carefully and they have to weigh the risk of the surgery versus the risk of their health if they don't have the surgery.

ZAHN: Well, that's a very good point, indeed.

Well, Debbie, we hope you have as much luck as your brother did.

LOMBA LEE: Thank you.

ZAHN: We'll be looking forward to checking in with you, maybe in February, to see how you're doing.

And Dr. Scott Shikora, thank you for joining us this morning and help explain to us what is going on on that front.

SHIKORA: Thank you very much.

ZAHN: Appreciate it so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 14, 2003 - 07:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to turn our attention to a kind of surgery that's getting done more and more often these days. With nearly 20 percent of the population considered obese and six million people at least 100 pounds overweight, perhaps it's no surprise that many Americans are choosing to slim down surgically. The most sought after procedure, gastric bypass, has become something of a medical phenomenon.
Doctors at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston say they are overwhelmed by the demand for the surgery.

Let's find out why.

Dr. Scott Shikora is a surgeon there and Debbie Loma Lee is scheduled to undergo a gastric bypass at the end of the month.

They both join us from Boston this morning.

Good morning.

Glad to see both of you.

DR. SCOTT SHIKORA, TUFTS-NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL CENTER: Good morning.

DEBBIE LOMBA LEE, GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENT: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: Dr. Shikora, we just talked about the demand at your hospital. Do you see this as a local trend or part of a national phenomenon?

SHIKORA: It's a national phenomenon because of the increase in obesity throughout society and the popularity of the operation.

ZAHN: And why do you think that's the case?

SHIKORA: Well, because society now understands that obesity is a high risk condition and that these procedures are more effective and safer so that we could offer it to more patients.

ZAHN: How much does it cost?

SHIKORA: It will vary from different areas in the country, but anywhere from $12,000 to $20,000 I would think.

ZAHN: And that's well worth it, Debbie?

LOMBA LEE: Oh, definitely.

ZAHN: Now, I understand you yoyo dieted for years.

LOMBA LEE: Yes.

ZAHN: What made you finally decide to go ahead with this kind of surgery? I know you're scheduled for the end of the month.

LOMBA LEE: Well, I think just the fact that doing so many different diets you go up and down, up and down. And I think that this was just something that was available to me to give me a jump start on trying to start all over again.

ZAHN: Debbie, as know, there have been a lot of high profile people that have gotten this done recently. We have pictures of Carney Wilson before and after, Al Roker before and after, and Representative Jerry Nadler, who also did the surgery. Did that help encourage you to go through with the surgery?

LOMBA LEE: Well, I think the first one that did was Connie Wilson. When I actually saw the photos of her before and after, it really got me to thinking. And so I put my name on the list.

ZAHN: And I understand your brother has also had this surgery. How is he doing? How much weight has he lost?

LOMBA LEE: Well, Dr. Shikora did the procedure on September 30th and I guess, I think he was in last week for a checkup and he's lost 126 pounds so far.

ZAHN: Is he...

LOMBA LEE: And you can really see the difference in him.

ZAHN: So he feels better. Is he exercising like crazy, too, to make sure he keeps it off?

LOMBA LEE: Well, he's not exercising like crazy, but he has increased his mobility.

ZAHN: That's great.

LOMBA LEE: He is exercising some, really, yes.

ZAHN: Dr. Shikora, I guess the most overwhelming thing is that statistic we used at the top of your introduction, that there are some six million people in this country that are at least 100 pounds overweight. Who do you blame for the cycle of obesity?

SHIKORA: Well, first, I've heard that the number was closer to 14 million as opposed to six million. And I think it's multi- factorial. It's fast food, it's Internet, it's cable television, where you have satellites and hundreds of channels to watch, lack of physical activity, the more sedentary lifestyle that we live.

ZAHN: And Dr. Shikora, before we let you go, just explain to people what risks they might have to face if they decide to go through and do what Debbie is going to do down the road here.

SHIKORA: Well, even though these operations are becoming more popular, safer and more effective, they're still major surgery. And there's risks of infections, of hemorrhage, of organ injury, blood clots. And sometimes patients even can die from the complications of the surgery. So patients have to consider the surgery very, very carefully and they have to weigh the risk of the surgery versus the risk of their health if they don't have the surgery.

ZAHN: Well, that's a very good point, indeed.

Well, Debbie, we hope you have as much luck as your brother did.

LOMBA LEE: Thank you.

ZAHN: We'll be looking forward to checking in with you, maybe in February, to see how you're doing.

And Dr. Scott Shikora, thank you for joining us this morning and help explain to us what is going on on that front.

SHIKORA: Thank you very much.

ZAHN: Appreciate it so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com