It Ain't Over Til The Thin Lady Sings: How to Make Your Weight Loss Surgery A Lasting Success: A Review

(Hint: It ain't by buyin' this book!)


I wanted to like It Ain't Over 'Til the Thin Lady Sings: there are far too few readable references about weight loss surgery (WLS) and successful strategies for living with the effects of the surgery.

Although the book makes a competent stab at examining some of the emotional issues surrounding obesity, weight loss and dieting, if your issues with weight are not easily categorizable as "emotional overeating", "wounded inner child", "food addict" or "co-dependent", then you are likely to find little satisfying in Ms. Ritchie's work. While she cites "research", there are precious few details given and no notes which would enable the reader to educate herself/himself about the facts being presented. Ms. Ritchie is an enthusiastic promoter of amino acid therapy, for instance, and devotes several pages to charts about what amino acids "cure" various complaints and cravings. She bases her recommendations on the work of Julia Ross, who is not a doctor, physician or nutritionist, but the holder of an M.A. in psychology and the executive director of Recovery Systems, a California clinic that treats eating and weight disorders with nutrient therapy and "biochemical rebalancing" - and a vendor of the amino acids recommended in Ms. Ritchie's book. None of this is disclosed by the author.

Those uncomfortable with a twelve-step approach to obesity and weight loss, or with spirituality, will find this book very difficult to use - or even take seriously. This is a pity as there are several interesting sections, such as the part on intimate relationships and (l'havdil) exercise post-surgery, that are worth gleaning from the chaff.

Perhaps it is a useful book for those who are trying to understand their own reasons for being obese and assess whether WLS is the right step for them in their quest for improved health and quality of life. However, the biggest shortcoming in this book which logically _should_ explore all the options for weight loss surgery in a comprehensive manner, is the utter lack of presentation of the various weight loss surgeries, or, in fact, even acknowledging that there _are_ differences between those surgeries mentioned (and not all surgical options are presented) There are significant variations in amounts of weight lost, risks involved, the type of medical and nutritional follow-up required, etc. Not all weight loss surgery patients have a "pouch", for instance. The fact of the matter is that the eating plans and need for dietary supplements, vary greatly between even the malabsorptive surgeries, such as the Roux-n-Y or the Duodenal Switch. The Duodenal Switch is never even mentioned by Ms. Ritchie as an option (those wanting to know more about this highly effective, though less commonly performed, procedure should visit http://www.duodenalswitch.com).

In sum, this book, regrettably, falls far short of the mark in being a useful guide to helping someone make a truly informed choice about WLS or being a comprehensive plan and support program for those seeking a rational and factual guide to life after this surgery.

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