No Term Limits for Obesity

From Bariatrictv.org

I was in attendance at the NYS Chapter of the ASMBS meeting in NYC last week, and we were fortunate to have Dr. Jaime Ponce, the president of the ASMBS, address our group about updates on many hot topics in the Bariatric surgery world.  He spoke of access to care with new health care laws starting to take effect,  and he made note of his busy week he had experienced with two politicians in succession making it known that they had undergone weight loss surgery recently.

The ASMBS sent out a press release last week regarding New York Congressman Tom Reed who underwent Bariatric Surgery recently, after he went public about it just last week.

As the press release states, Obesity knows no particular class of person.  It does not discriminate amongst the celebrity or common man.  And certainly, the associated comorbidities are just as destructive and quality of life diminishing each group.

What is a little different though, between a public and a non-public figure, is the attention that surgery like this gets when a public servant chooses to undergo a weight loss operation due to significant obesity and related diseases.

Such is also the case with the Buffalo Representative Mr. Reed.  He made the decision to have a Gastric Bypass earlier this year has left him 70 pounds lighter, and now Diabetes-free.

It is hoped with this increased focus on this particular case, in combination with potential legislative sensitivity to the issues of access to surgical care of obesity and Diabetes, so that advances could be manifest in this area as well.

So who do you think might be next?!