Rex Ryan’s Weight Loss; Update from his Surgeon

rex ryan weight lossRex Ryan has been in the media a lot since he took over in New York as head coach of the New York Jets. He’s now getting new attention as people are noticing his new, slimmer figure. Dr. George Fielding, who performed Ryan’s Lap Band surgery, spoke with us today:

“Rex went public with his band surgery about 2 years ago. Now, the benefits of his decision to have a band are easily seen. He’s gone from 340 lbs to 256 lbs, and is still losing weight. There are many ways to lose weight, most of them fads, and most doomed to failure in the long term. Every day, a new miracle cure pops up on TV and in magazines. Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, has been around for a long time, and has stood the test of time. It’s certainly no miracle. It’s hard work. It’s a choice patients make after they’ve tried and failed many times to lose weight and keep it off, are often getting sick, and have deteriorating quality of life.

Dr. Fielding emphasized: “Weight loss after bariatric surgery is a journey. It’s not a race. It’s not what happens in game one: it’s whether you get to the superbowl, and whether you are still there the next year fighting for the next one. It’s completely expected that a large man like Rex will lose about 120-130 lbs, then keep it off. He’s on track to do this. He will definitely be a slimmer Rex than most fans are used to seeing, when the season opens later this year. I told Rex all this 2 years ago – like I tell all our patients: The keys to success with the band are simple – keep attending follow-up to adjust the band as necessary to control hunger, then, once the band is tight, eat slowly, and eat as healthy food as possible. I have had a Lap Band myself for 12 years, and have been the same weight for the last 10 years. I just eat slowly, which can be the hardest part for a big guy – and I get full and I stop, because I’m not hungry. It can be frustrating at times, especially if patients don’t think they are losing weight fast enough. But everyone has to remember it’s not a race.”

Stay tuned for an upcoming article where Rex Ryan & Carnie Wilson’s surgeons speak to us about myths and perceptions of weight loss surgery, and what they’d like people to understand about their patients. You can sign up for our weekly newsletter, with the latest research and news on obesity and weight loss here.

Comments are closed.