Dr Karen ThrosbyDepartment of Sociology

University of Warwick

Shell 2002: 20“Taking aim with his Endo-GIA II stapler, which

cuts as well as rivets, he divides the stomach into two parts and staples the top portion in a twenty-milliliter pouch, about two tablespoons. […] Mun feels down the small intestine, past the duodenum to the jejunum, slices through the sausage like structure and nails it to the stomach pouch with his EEA circular stapler, creating a passageway the circumference of an M&M. Mun regards the EEA fondly, and praises its smooth, powerful action. The device pits out sixty-four stainless steel staples at a trigger pull, accomplishing in a split second what once took long minutes of painstaking needlework.”

Ackerman 1999: 197“I have no doubt that someday there will be

medication more effective than any operation for the treatment of morbid obesity. Appetite and satiation are complicated matters. When more is learned about the chemical reactions in the body that control appetite and satiation, a medical treatment of weight control should be feasible. I think its inevitable, but the only question is when will we have this knowledge. It still could be a long way off.”

Janet“But over a period of sort of six months, the

Reductil was gradually betting less and less effective. And I find, you know, I can diet, I’ve been on the Slimming World diet, and Weight Watchers […] I’ve done all of them, you know, the banana and milk diet, and the…I haven’t done the cabbage soup [diet], strangely. That’s one I haven’t done, but as I say, I’ve done all of the weird and wonderful ones. I tried the Cambridge diet when that first can out years ago, erm…mostly liquid replacements.”

Bill“I felt I’d tried absolutely everything

else, and there was nothing else to try, and I couldn’t face doing the same old things again and think that they would turn out any differently than the other times.”

Ken “Life at two years out is a challenge.

As for most people, maintaining the energy-intake output equation whilst balancing a busy life is difficult. Now I am at least in with a chance to take part”.

Renee Williams

Joanne“There are risks. I think probably,

there’s probably less risk for me. Because I’m not huge at the moment…I think the bigger you are, the higher the risk.”

Judith“I was having some problems being

sick […] and was making pretty unpleasant noises, burping, this, that and the other. And he got very annoyed one day and said “It’s unnatural. You shouldn’t have had it done”.