This week: “Life After the Knife.” Why did 177,600 people – mostly women – undergo bariatric weight-loss surgery last year? Was it for physical health, self-esteem, or both? What are the real benefits of taking the surgical route out of a life of obesity? Are the unpleasant side effects of some surgeries (including nausea, vomiting, and “shockingly pungent gas and stool”) worth the chance to “feel like I’ve finally accepted myself,” in the words of one East Bay woman? In a thought-provoking story by writer Lauren Gard, we meet several women whose lives have changed dramatically since their surgeries. Their testimonies may cause you to think twice about the various procedures and their emotional and physical consequences.
.You Write Too Long: This Week’s Feature Bite-Sized
