This poor girl strikes me as a classic addict. Addicted to food and eating and also, more specifically, addicted to carbohydrates whether they be sugary or starchy. If she is addicted then she has lost the power of choice over food. She cannot say no; she cannot choose wisely; she cannot particularly when bed-bound refuse the high carb meals served by her Mum. If she could make healthy choices and limit portion sizes she would not be in this situation.
When she was at boot camp she got lots of support, encouragement and counselling. Everyone there was rooting for her and willing her to succeed as well as providing her with good, healthy food in moderate amounts. She was tackling their programme alongside other kids with the same problem so she did not feel embarassed or humiliated when doing sports, exercises etc. But when she got back home she found the same situation she had left behind. NO or insufficient continued backup support from the boot camp peeps. She was expected to just get on with it. Naturally and understandably she found herself in huge trouble very fast.
I really do feel for her. I hope that she gets assessed whilst in hospital and that they give her decent, practical, workable advice. She may need therapy/counselling, too. But first and foremost she needs to get sugar and starch OUT of her system, perhaps with a low-carb way of eating such as Atkins. This would give her the benefit of ketosis and take away the harsh edge of her hunger and cravings.
If no healthcare official or body steps forward to save this girl she will die. It's only a matter of time. I can see gastric bypass or similar being suggested sooner rather than later. I personally am opposed to bariatric surgery unless it is literally a last-minute procedure to save someone from imminent death. More and more obese and morbidly obese young people in the UK - including teenagers - are begging for or being offered WLS.
Earlier this week a bariatric nurse in the UK posted a long and sobering blog about what she calls 'the truth' about WLS. I can't remember which newspaper featured her blog but it would be easy to google. If Georgia or any other has a bypass or similar procedure she will be agreeing to never, ever in her lifetime being able to eat another 'normal', everyday meal. She will be condemned to risk of dumping (which makes the individual feel very ill indeed) following ingestion of fatty or sugary food or both - even a very small amount can cause this problem. She will be required to have blood tests and other procedures forever, as well as to take numerous supplements - again, for the rest of her life. Even with heavy supplementation WLS patients are still at risk of anaemia, eye problems, malabsorption issues (which can lead to death), vitamin and other deficiencies... and many more. Even if it is all judged 'a success' she may well regain all but 10% of her initial weight loss. I read very recently that WLS patients are NOT told they will probably, over time, regain their voracious appetite. They may not be physically able to eat as they did before surgery but they will to some extent experience the old hunger and cravings which can lead them to nibble all day.
Should any reader doubt what I have said, check out a couple of yahoo groups:
WLS uncensored
WLS gone wrong
I have a friend in the USA who is literally lucky to be alive following gastric bypass. She was featured in a tv documentary along with two other sample patients - one of them a British girl (teenager). Alas the girl died after a year of ultra fast weight loss and near-total inability to absorb nutrients from her food. So shocking was this documentary that I became very anxious to know whether or not the American lady was still alive; she was close to death at the time of filming. I found her! Yes she is alive but only because of a long campaign to get funding for a 'reversal'. Had her bypass NOT been reversed she would no longer be here.
Here in the UK severe obesity problems are increasing relentlessly and surgery is more and more touted as the answer. I think it is just easier for them to offer this, since the NHS will pay where applicable, and no real effort has to be made or financed into the treatment of individuals who are eating themselves to early death.
Georgia, bless her, is just one of many suffering behind closed doors.
Everything I have just typed is easily checked and verified online - but don't expect the truth on a site dedicated to selling and promoting WLS!
