Hiya debz, welcome to the forum, not sure about your question on the gastric band surgery but there is a section on this forum where I am sure ya will get your answers. Have ya ever tried a vlcd? It may help you out for a short term and some people can lose lots of weight. There are numerous diets on this forum if ya wana ask questions on them. Like yourself every time I went to the doctors I was classed as obese, then when it went to morbiddly obese I was offered the operation which I declined. I don't like having operations and read about the pro's and con's of having the operation which helped me to stay away from it to be honest. A year later and I have decided to go on Lipotrim as I had a recent scare of a heart condition so basically thats why I am here. I throughly enjoy the diet but I wouldnt have got where I am today if it wasn't for the close number of people around me. No matter what your decision will be, we are all here to support ya no matter what. All the best, take care