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Several years ago, they did a study on a device developed, I believe, in Switzerland called the "gastric pacer". Several US Weight loss surgery surgeons jumped on the bandwagon. What this device (implanted in the back - and similar in function to a heart pacemaker) did was send electrical impulses to the vagus nerve of the stomach. No intestines were rearranged, the stomach was not otherwise disturbed and it seemed the greatest thing since apple pie. One surgeon wrote to a listserve "I am testing a device now which will outdate all weight loss surgery in five years!"

While obese is a medical term, fat is the language of the bully. It's not a word doctors should use.

A headline in the AZCentral website boasts that "Experimental diet pill has promise, little risk".

I have noticed a new media campaign hawking gastric bypass for diabetes. And not only that but also they are suggesting this surgery (which Rudy Leibel called "draconian") for those folks who are not especially overweight.

This article is people's experiences trying out for The Biggest Looser and other weight loss reality TV shows.  More will be added over time.

The following is the release form given to the patients of Dr Terry Simpson, bariatric surgeon, Phoenix, AZ and is reprinted with his permission. It is usually attributed to the insurance provider, Kaiser Permanante and used by several doctors and surgeons across the USA. Each patient is asked to read carefully and sign before their surgery.  The patient who typed this in apparently decided against WLS after reading this. Many patients who suffer complications later admitted that they did NOT read this form - just signed it.  Going into bariatric surgery not being prepared for after surgery compliance is extremely risky.

Right after weight loss surgery is what is called the "honeymoon stage."

The following news story is the typical, presenting gastric bypass as a viable solution for obesity. The reporter irresponsibly only talked to the surgeons doing the surgery and did not do any research. "Our phones ring off the hook" said the gatekeeper of one surgeon, of favorable news stories. Time for some responsible reporting, methinks!

Totally destroying the image of the fat kid overeating which has been so popular on the American scene, a new study out of Canada found that actually overweight and obese kids ate less calories than their slimmer peers (those of us who have fought a weight issue all of our lives are familiar with this one, having had to watch slim folks down huge portions of pizza while we munch on a carrot!).

Fat is Bad.

Isn't it odd that people deeply divided on almost every important topic can so easily agree on that assertion? Isn't it strange that countries significantly divergent in culture, attitudes, and approaches apparently share the sentiment?

LYNN MC AFEE is three weeks old, and her parents are panicking. Why has she gained so much weight and grown so long? Her large mother has already spent many painful years of her life battling her weight, and she doesn't want the same for her child. So it's off to the pediatrician's office.

Interview with Jennifer Jonassen, star of upcoming documentary FAT.  This interviw will be published in both English and Spanish in El Correo.

Carlos Benito for El Correo: Do you think size-related discrimination is getting worse in the USA? Could you give some example which supports that...