Al Roker Explains 100-Pound Weight Loss
Weatherman Says He Battled Weight His Whole Life

POSTED: 1:51 p.m. EST November 12, 2002
UPDATED: 3:56 p.m. EST November 12, 2002

NEW YORK -- There's nothing wrong with your television set, Al Roker really does look different.

That's because he lost 100 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

The 5-foot-8-inch weatherman on NBC's "Today" show weighed 320 pounds before the operation in March. A segment on Roker's surgery is scheduled to air Tuesday night on NBC's "Dateline."

His wife, Deborah Roberts, a correspondent for ABC's "20/20," had interviewed singer Carnie Wilson in 1999 about her own gastric bypass surgery, and suggested it to Roker.

A well-known foodie who's battled his weight his whole life, he was reluctant, believing the procedure would be "such an admission of failure," he told People magazine for its Nov. 18 issue. "You think people will look at you like, 'You weak son of a pup."'

When Roberts brought it up again two years later, Roker, 48, was open to the idea. At first, he told his co-workers he was having a gall bladder operation, but has revealed his secret gradually.

Roker said he realized that "this is no different than alcoholism or chemical dependency. It's a disease. And you know what? If you had heart disease and you had a bypass, nobody would think anything of it."
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Dave's note: I think most of us who are 100+ pounds overweight have considered gastric bypass surgery as a solution. I was as close as actually having an appointment with a bariatric surgeon late last year, but decided against it. For some people it may truly be the only means for them to be healthy. I thought it would be good to present this story here and open up the floor for any comments on the subject.

I have to agree with Roker. But I read about the failure rates after 5 years of maintenance. It was, I read, 40%. It is like heart bypass where you must continue to take care of yourself. I would never consider the surgery. I only had surgery when I was 4 having my tonsils removed. I still remember that and am reluctant of having an elective surgery. I do support those that do.

I am with CE. I had my appendix removed 6 years ago and don't want any kind of surgery (I don't think I needed that but that's another story). I have read that for women, their chances of dying in child birth go WAY up, and for both men and women, the other telltale signs of heart disease - high cholesterol, blood pressure, plaque and calcium deposits, etc. - are still evident. I have read that there is a total lack of support for maintenance and women would swap stories of how they "beat" the system - they can't eat a candy bar or drink a can of pop, for instance, due to stomach size and nausea. They will share how they can eat one bite of a chocolate bar at a time, and increase that amount until they can tolerate the whole thing - or can of pop. They are going right back to their old habits.

But I also know two people who have had it done and are (so far) very pleased with it. You can tell even their personalities are totally different.

OK, looks like it is time to add my 2 cents in more detail. :)

I have researched weight-loss surgery for about two years now. I have several health problems dirtectly caused by my being obese, and one of them is poor circulation and a history of blood clots. This would actually make me a poor candidate for the surgery. However, my doctor did want me to talk to a bariatric surgeon, and I had a referral and appointment scheduled. I cancelled the appointment after more thought and prayer. So many issues to deliberate with this, but the bottom line was that my wonderful wife Fayrda said she wanted to see me use my own self-discipline with God's help rather than a forced discipline, and I agree.

Another concern of mine is the long-term affect the mal-absorbtion will have on one's body. The bypass surgery drastically reduces the body's abilitiy to absorb calories, but also essential nutrients and vitamins. Each person who has the surgery is unique and reacts differently and has a different result. A nurse in our doctor's office had the surgery and lost 100+ pounds, but now she can not eat any type of red meat at all. Others I know can not eat sweets without becoming ill.

We know several people who have had the surgery and are very happy. New eating habits and increased activity are still necessary even after weight-loss surgery. The surgery ensures a quick weight-loss while eating properly and exercising, but that does not always seem good. I read about many people who had such terribly sagging skin after getting to goal that they had to have surgery to remove that. So, 2 surgeries are actually required in most cases.

My final decision has been to not have the surgery, but to count my points and increase my activity. Even if the scale moves down slowly or not at all, my ultimate goal is health and complete healing that God has promised. For some, this surgery may be fine, but I don't feel it is in the Lord's plan for my healing.

Well, now... more from me. My SIL and his family owns a hospital in NJ. He has so much experience with the patients as well as administrator. We talked in detail about two things: Gastric Bypass and Alzheimers. I do appreciate and respect his opinion which is, a) very little success and heath with gastric bypass and b) deterioration for Alzheimer patients until they almost pass away from starvation. He deals in reality each and every day, and so do I.
I still do not want an elective surgery, and with all my heart I believe you can make it with self-discipline.