Celebrities Who Have Had Bariatric Surgery

Have you ever felt that you should keep your bariatric surgery a secret? Do you ever feel alone in your journey? It may help to think about celebrities who have had bariatric surgery procedures. These people may have all the resources and status in the world, they chose bariatric surgery as their best bet for losing weight and keeping it off.

Reasons for Weight Loss Surgery

Why do you get bariatric surgery? It’s not for vanity’s sake or because it makes weight loss easy. For most bariatric surgery patients, it is to improve health and quality of life. Being very overweight puts you at risk for severe health problems, such as the following.

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Sleep apnea
• Respiratory conditions
• And more

These can affect you on a daily basis and interfere with day-to-day activities. 

Bariatric surgery is thought to be one of the most effective ways of losing a lot of weight and keeping off a lot of those pounds. Over 200,000 patients get bariatric surgery annually in the US, but it is still relatively rare. In comparison, over 2 million patients are eligible. That means only 1 in 10 patients that could get bariatric surgery actually does. The stigma remains.

Stigma Around Bariatric Surgery

If you are a bariatric surgery patient, you know that surgery was not “the easy way out.” You know that you are working hard to get healthy. But do others know that?

Many bariatric surgery patients feel judged or worry about the stigma surrounding the procedure. So, they may wonder whether to tell people about their choice, or how much to tell them. Celebrities may feel similarly. Some may choose to keep their surgery secret, while others may share a little bit or a lot about their experience.

List of Celebrities Who Have Had Bariatric Surgery

So now, which celebrities have had bariatric surgery? This list is from endocrineweb.com. 

Kelly Osbourne is the daughter of Sharon Osbourne, who has been well-known since being on the reality television show, “The Osbournes,” as well as Dancing with the Stars. It is said that Sharon Osbourne had adjustable gastric band surgery (lap-band), but had the band removed eventually.

Kelly Osbourne, on the other hand, opted for gastric sleeve surgery, which is irreversible. It involves removing the large stomach pouch and forming a tube, or “sleeve,” out of the remaining part of the stomach. She lost 85 pounds since getting the sleeve gastrectomy in 2018, and she believes her decision was right for her. In the past, she has experienced alcohol addiction and emotional eating. Now, she says her lifestyle is healthier.

Al Roker is the weatherman on NBC’s “Today” show. He struggled with his weight for much of his life, and experienced years of yo-yo dieting before getting the gastric bypass procedure in 2002. Roker has gained some weight back, but not all of it. 

Roker is a proponent of support groups for weight loss surgery patients. Peer-to-peer support groups can help with troubleshooting, encouragement, and support during setbacks. They can also help each other think about food and lifestyle in new, healthy ways compared to how they approached these issues before surgery.

Carnie Wilson’s first bariatric procedure was in 1999, when the gastric bypass was the primary option. It initially worked, allowing for a 150-pound weight loss. However, weight returned, and she chose to get an adjustable gastric band in 2012.

Carnie Wilson has undergone two bariatric surgery procedures, which is something that some patients need to deal with. The first procedure is often known as the “failed” procedure. It can fail because of poor choices or because of complications that can best be fixed surgically. Carnie Wilson says giving birth has made it harder to control her weight, and that points to the importance of integrating family life into a weight loss lifestyle. 

Like many bariatric surgery patients, Randy Jackson got a wake-up call and acted on it. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is a chronic condition that is usually linked to being overweight. Excess pounds increase insulin resistance and can lead to higher than normal blood sugar levels and prediabetes or diabetes. If poorly managed, diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, eye problems, neuropathy, and other conditions.

Jackson lost 100 pounds after getting gastric bypass surgery in 2003. He regained some weight, but then made additional lifestyle changes. He ate better and kept up an exercise program.

Like many bariatric surgery candidates, Mariah Carey had always had curves, and did not outwardly appear to mind them. This apparently changed in 2017, when a slew of body shaming comments appeared online. 

Rumors circulated that she got gastric sleeve surgery, though Carey herself never confirmed them directly. This rings true with many gastric sleeve patients, who fear further shaming for their decision to get bariatric surgery. Carey has maintained that she avoids refined sugars and exercises to control weight.

Rosie O’Donnell had a heart attack at the edge of 50. This made her rethink her lifestyle and weight. For assistance, she decided to get the vertical gastric sleeve to shrink the size of her stomach and prevent her from eating overly large meals.

Her weight decreased to 178 pounds from 240 pounds, which is more than a 25% reduction. While this is impressive, it brings up another common challenge among bariatric surgery patients: a changed appearance with dramatic weight loss.

Bariatric surgery is a life-changing, and sometimes life-saving, procedure. It can be a lonely journey because patients who fear being stigmatized may keep it quiet, but lots of Americans turn to it. Many celebrities have had it, and being aware of their decisions can motivate you to stay true to yours. Plus, even if you are “successful,” you can face challenges. It can help to know that celebrities have the same struggles about whether and how much to tell, and changes in appearance after losing weight.