You more than likely know someone who has had a Bariatric Surgery. These are surgeries that help with obesity such as Gastric Bypass and Lap Band.
If you do know someone then you more than likely found that person to gain weight back. I have known several people and some have been my clients. I have mixed feelings about these surgeries mainly because they are a quick fix for a disease that is all about lifestyle and if you just changed your lifestyle, i.e. diet and exercise, then there would be no need for the surgery.
From 1998 to 2004 there was an 800% increase in bariatric surgeries performed according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). With such a high rate of obesity and illnesses that go along with obesity people are choosing this surgery over a lifestyle change. They think it's a cure and it's not. Most people lose a lot of weight right away and then they stop. They go back to their old habits and the stomach pouch accommodates a greater intake and the intestines tolerate a larger amount of food and the next thing you know you're gaining weight back.
After surgery regular exercise, physical activity and healthy eating is essential for long term weight loss and prevention of weight re-gained and this is why people fail. They don't learn and don't want to work on changing their lifestyle they just want the quick fix, but after time the quick fix doesn't work anymore. Out of all the people I know who received one of these surgeries, I do not know one who is at their goal weight. I knew someone who had the lap band surgery and lost a lot of weight and then the band slipped and her weight came all back on because she didn't learn how to eat right and exercise and refused to change her bad habits.
If you know someone who is thinking about having this surgery be sure to encourage post surgery exercise, meeting with a dietitian and seeing a counselor because there is usually an emotional reason why they eat like they do. If they don't change their habits the surgery, money and time is all wasted.