Bariatrics Celebrities and Bariatric Surgery

Truth behind Celebrities and Weight Loss Surgery

By Amy Teeple

Published on January 07, 2008

Typically, the word “celebrity” conjures up images of beautiful faces and trim physiques. But, like many Americans, some celebrities have struggled with their weight. Scrutinized in the public eye, many of these celebrities have turned to weight loss surgery. Some, like Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips fame and the Today Show's Al Roker, are very open about undergoing bariatric surgery. Others, including Star Jones (formerly of The View), spend years denying that their weight loss was the result of surgery.

Quick Look at Weight Loss Surgery in the United States

The popularity of weight loss surgery has grown steadily over the years. There was a 755 percent increase in the number of weight loss surgeries performed in the United States between 1995 (20,000) and 2005 (171,000).

Most of these bariatric surgeries fall into one of two categories: gastric bypass surgery and restrictive banding surgery. Variations on gastric bypass surgery, including the roux-en-y gastric bypass procedure , are currently the most popular weight loss surgeries in the United States. Restrictive banding surgeries, specifically LAP-BAND® System surgery , are more popular overseas, but are gaining popularity in the United States.

Which Celebrity Had Which Weight Loss Surgery?

Many people are interested in knowing which celebrities have undergone which bariatric surgery procedures. Here’s DocShop’s breakdown

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Today, many types of gastric bypass surgeries, like the popular roux-en-y procedure, involve the combination of surgically bypassing a section of the intestines with the creation of a pouch (essentially, a smaller stomach). This type of bariatric surgery is associated with faster weight loss, but can be more expensive and harder to reverse than a gastric banding procedure.

Celebrities who have had traditional gastric bypass weight loss surgery include :

  • Star Jones (TV personality)
  • Carnie Wilson (singer in Wilson Phillips, TV personality)
  • Al Roker (weatherman on Today Show, author)
  • John Popper (lead singer of Blues Traveler, songwriter)
  • Michael Genadry (actor)

The Fobi Pouch method is a variation of the roux-en-y gastric bypass procedure, which uses a band to divide the stomach, creating a smaller pouch.

Celebrities who underwent the Fobi Pouch method of gastric bypass surgery include :

  • Randy Jackson (American Idol judge, musician, record producer)
  • Roseanne Barr (actress, comedienne)
  • Etta James (singer)
  • Jo Marie Payton (actress)
  • Jennifer Holliday (singer, actress)

LAP-BAND® System Surgery

Unlike gastric bypass surgery, the LAP-BAND® System does not reroute the intestines. Instead, a silicone band is used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. Although not as popular in the United States as gastric bypass surgery, LAP-BAND® System surgery is typically less expensive and is both adjustable and reversible.

Celebrities who have had LAP-BAND® surgery include :

  • Sharon Osbourne (TV personality, music manager/promoter, wife of Ozzy Osbourne)
  • Ann Wilson (lead singer of the rock band Heart)
  • Khaliah Ali (fashion designer, author, daughter of Muhammad Ali)
  • Joe Gannascoli (actor)
  • Brian Dennehy (actor)
  • Anne Diamond (British TV personality)
  • Mikey Robbins (Australian media personality)

Full Disclosure, Acknowledgement, or Denial

When celebrities radically transform their appearance, the public usually wants to know how they did it. Did the celebrity have surgery? Use diet pills? Work out with a trainer for hours at a time?

Almost Too Much Information

Numerous celebrities are willing to disclose that they had surgery. Some announce the surgery through a media outlet or even place the weight loss surgery at center stage. For example, Carnie Wilson had a live Internet broadcast of her gastric bypass surgery in 1999. After going from a size 28 to a size 6, Wilson showed off her new physique by posing for Playboy.

Willing to Share

Not quite as upfront as Carnie Wilson, after initially hiding the fact that he was going to have the surgery, Al Roker allowed a video segment surrounding his gastric bypass surgery to be aired on Dateline. By the time the segment aired, the Today Show weatherman had already lost about 100 pounds.

Other celebrities will acknowledge they underwent surgery if asked, but won't go out of their way to talk about it. Many times, once the weight loss surgery is made public knowledge, a celebrity will be featured in a magazine article or on the website of the surgeon who performed the procedure. Roseanne Barr, America Idol's Randy Jackson, Etta James, and Jo Marie Payton have all been featured in weight loss articles and on the websites of the bariatric surgeons who performed their surgeries.

Deny, Deny, Deny

Some celebrities and public figures will outright deny that they have undergone weight loss surgery. Star Jones, a former member of The View and current host of Star Jones, underwent gastric bypass surgery in the summer of 2003. For the next several years, when asked in interviews if she had undergone weight loss surgery, she said that she had not. Finally, in September 2007, she admitted in Glamour magazine that she had had gastric bypass surgery.

Currently, there is speculation that former Arkansas governor and current hopeful for the Republican presidential nomination Mike Huckabee has undergone some form of bariatric surgery. Huckabee's 100-plus-pound weight loss in less than two years has led many to believe that he must have turned to weight loss surgery. The presidential hopeful denies that he has had surgery and attributes his weight loss to healthy eating habits and exercise.

Is Keeping the Weight Off Easier for Celebrities?

Although weight loss surgery helps take weight off, many people have difficulty keeping that weight off. Some estimates state that about 5 percent of weight loss surgery patients gain back the weight.

How do celebrities fair in this equation? Is it easier for them to keep the weight off because they have the money for trainers, nutritionists, and private chefs? Not necessarily.

Keeping It Off

In many cases, celebrities who have undergone bariatric surgery are able to maintain their weight loss. In the three years since her gastric bypass surgery, Star Jones has lost and kept off 160 pounds. Music legend Etta James loss 200 pounds after her surgery a few years ago and seems to have kept it off.

Struggling with Weight Again

Sharon Osbourne lost over 100 pounds after her LAP-BAND® surgery in 1999; however, in 2006 she announced on the Howard Stern Show that she gained 15 pounds back in the previous year and was having the band removed.

After losing at least 100 pounds, it appears that a back surgery in 2005 has sparked a gradual weight gain for Al Roker.

Still Fighting

Although she is still an avid weight-loss advocate, Carnie Wilson regained some of the 150 pounds that she had lost after giving birth to her daughter in 2005. In 2006, she became a contestant on Celebrity Fit Club and lost 22 pounds during the show.

Carnie Wilson and many other celebrities know that they will constantly need to maintain a healthy diet and exercise program in order to keep off the weight they lost through surgery.

Comment on this article →

Keyword Tags: celebrity features, bariatric surgery, lap band system, gastric bypass surgery, featured

Still Have a Question? Ask a Specialist in Your Area

Comments

1

Joy, I hope this finds you on your way to health. I hear you loud and clear that you are desperate and anxious. I don't mean to sound simplistic and I am in no way medically trained, but this method lost 70 lbs for me. I simply cut whatever I usually eat in half, and started walking a mile a day. (Water aerobics is safer on the joints) My goal was to lose no more than 2 lbs a week. Some months I didn't lose anything so I just got more determined. As long as I didn't gain, and I knew I was eating about 30% less, I had to lose. The point is your stomach will shrink and your appetite will decrease so it gets easier. You have to eat less for the rest of your life with or without surgery, so who wants the added risks? I know how bad the cravings can be, but they too will get better. Make sure you don't have Cushing's or some other medical cause, keep your blood sugar level and good luck!

vj
about 1 year ago

2

Joy, I know your pain. Weight loss surgery sounds like it may be right for you. Sometimes simply changing your eating habits isn't enough. I would speak to someone else as BCBS. not only to they cover wls (though it may depend on your specific policy and whether you employer opted for that coverage) but many insurance companies absolutely cover surgery, some up to 100%. And while I understand finances may be tough, many physicians will set up a self-pay plan.

There is a very friendly and helpful website called www.obesityhelp.com. On it you can find information about various types of wls and forums filled with people offering their advice and experiences. This is where I found out about the Duodenal Switch, or DS, procedure. It's more effective in the long-term than gastric bypass, though not nearly enough press coverage is given to it. I hope you're on your way to health and check out the site. You'll find plenty of good-intentioned people who've been right where you are. Good luck.

Kimberly Martin
about 1 year ago

3

I also have BCBS and was told that they had criteria for the surgery. After doing all of the items on the list, I was denied. It took 2 months for me to find out what I had done wrong, and had to redo the six month diet log with a nutritionist. I had gone to a doctor and was informed by BCBS that a doctor didn't know as much as a nutritionist or someone who worked for Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers. (those were my other options) After seeing a nutritionist for 6 months, we submitted the papers and waited again. They lost my paperwork 4 times - I am not lying. I sent everything out certified return receipt to prove we sent it in the mail. It took another 6 or 7 weeks to finally get an answer. I did get approved but all of the testing I did for the doctor and insurance was out dated and I have to redo all of the testing ($4000). I now will be having the surgery in the next 6 weeks. Sometimes you have to keep pushing thru the insurance company and do not take no for an answer. The whole process has taken me about 20 months to complete.

DZ
about 1 year ago

4

Who does the gastric bypass and there result work

Erika Wilson
about 1 year ago

5

my husband and I both had gastric bypass surgery 5 years ago. I lost 90 lbs and he lost 130 lbs. I have a hole from my tiny stomach that is bigger than the original hole that makes it empty very fast leaving me hungry soon, his has stretched to a much bigger size. I diet like a fiend daily and have only regained 6 lbs while he has regained almost 60 lbs. Its all about how hard you want to work but it is NO miracle cure. It works as well as you do. I would NOT do it again because of all the post surgery complications that continue to this day.

rw
10 months ago

6

I had Gastric Bypass over 3 years ago. I went from 240 down to 117 in less than a year. I've put back on probably, 13 pounds since being off work. It is HARD. For a couple of years..it's so easy you never think of what to put into your mouth. Then, year 3...on it comes. A lot of people I know have also at the 3 year mark. Actually, of the 20 or so people I know, they've all reagained it all. We wasn't able to loose and keep it off in before WLS so how can we not??? It's really terrifying to think I'm on the road back. I know as we all do, WATCH what we put in our mouth. It will become part of our whole body forever. AND always stay active. I'd do it again...but not wait til I was 49.

Suzanne
9 months ago

7

i jut had my bypass reversed .please be careful about your decicions to have this done .it's not an easy operation either way . please be careful and hink serirously /thanks

justar
8 months ago

8

The only reason why the Lap Band is not so popular is because most insurance plans do not cover it. However nowadays that is changing since the band can continually be adjusted.

When I had Gastric Bypass surgery back in 2003, insurance only covered that by 100%. It is a drastic surgery & one that I really don't recommend anymore. I do highly recommend however, the Lap Band After 6yrs, I have slowly gained most of my weight back.

I do believe that the comment that about 5% gain weight after this surgery is totally incorrect. I know too many who have undergone this surgery, and I would think that it is mostly 95%.

Linn
5 months ago

9

i am currently doing a dissertation for health and food technology and all of these surgeries are shocking all that is needed is a balanced diet and plenty of exercise, i am a qualified physical trainer and surgery should never be a fast cop out option for those unwilling to put in the work.

annoyed
4 months ago

10

It's personally hard for me to believe the figure of a 5 percent failure rate, or that only that small percentage gain back some of the weight they lost as a result of weight-loss surgery is accurate.
Perhaps the sampling of people in my area aren't representative enough of the group as a whole, but here, it's almost like the majority of those who have undergone the various procedures have gained back a considerable amount, if not all of the weight that they lost.
Even among celebrities, who come from all over the world, there are way too many who have visibly gained back their weight.

The Rubber Duck
about 1 month ago

Post your comment

Public comments are welcome. For answers to your personal questions, ask a specialist in our directory.

Name
Email (kept private)
Website
Message