Celebrities Who Have Been Open About Weight Loss Surgery
These five popular celebrities have benefitted from undergoing weight loss surgery. Here’s what we can learn from their stories.
Many celebrities and social media influencers talk about their diets or exercise routines at length, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find stars who will speak as candidly about weight loss surgery.
But why wouldn’t someone want to share with the world how weight loss surgery has helped them change their lifestyle, boost their confidence, and reduce their risk of serious disease? These five celebrities are more than happy to share their weight loss surgery journeys and their stories are sure to inspire you.
1. Gabourey Sidibe
Precious and American Horror Story star Gabourey Sidibe had bariatric surgery in May of 2016 after struggling with type 2 diabetes. Sidibe told People magazine that she took a long time to warm up to the idea of weight loss surgery because she was stuck on trying to lose weight through diet and exercise.
“I really, really tried — I gave a valiant try,” she commented. “So I’m glad that I finally realized that the surgery wasn’t the easy way out. I wasn’t cheating by getting it done.”
Now she no longer wakes up anxious about diabetes complications, preaches body positivity wherever she goes, and does whatever she can to make her amazing weight loss results stick.
2. Al Roker
At his heaviest, Today weatherman and all-around funnyman Al Roker weighed 340 pounds. With the help of gastric bypass surgery, he lost 115 pounds, but it wasn’t always an easy journey. When his mother was hospitalized in 2008, Roker began emotionally over-eating and gained some of the weight back.
Still, Roker bounced back quickly and returned to a healthy weight by exercising three times a week and sticking to a high-protein diet. Al Roker’s story shows that slip-ups on your weight loss journey are bound to happen, but it’s always possible to start over and get back on track.
3. Anne Rice
Before Stephanie Meyer, there was literary vampire queen Anne Rice. The prolific author of more than 35 works of gothic fiction got gastric bypass in 2003. At 254 pounds she couldn’t walk up the stairs without feeling winded and struggled with sleep apnea and high blood pressure.
After weight loss surgery, Rice lost 44 pounds in only six months. She counts getting weight loss surgery as one of the best decisions she’s ever made.
In a 2003 Plainview interview, she mused: “When you’re fighting this type of battle your entire life, surgery is a very legitimate answer. For me, it was the best possible choice. I feel like I’ve already got a big part of my life back.”
4. Rosie O’Donnell
Unfortunately, sometimes a traumatic event inspires you to make a lifestyle change. Comedienne and actress Rosie O’Donnell suffered a near-fatal heart attack in 2012 and the very next year she committed to getting serious about her health.
O’Donnell changed her life with vertical gastric sleeve surgery, a procedure that partitions the stomach and helps control hunger hormones. Six years later, she’s full of energy and can keep up with her five children. O’Donnell wants to spread awareness of weight loss surgery so more people who struggle with excess weight can see it as a viable option.
5. Graham Elliot
MasterChef and MasterChef Junior judge Graham Elliot had a gastric sleeve procedure done when he was 36. What made him do it? His three sons Mylo, Conrad, and Jedediah. Elliot had struggled with his weight for years but when it started affecting his boys, he knew it was time to make a serious change.
Elliot’s doctors decided gastric sleeve was the best option for him because with this kind of weight loss surgery, he would still be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods. As a chef, he loves food and tastes everything he can — he just minds his portions more closely now.
If you’re interested in seeing similar results — and enjoying the various health and confidence-boosting benefits of bariatric surgery — schedule an appointment with Long Island Laparoscopic Doctors today!