Practically Eligible for Lap-Band . . . SERIOUSLY!?

You've got to be kidding me. . .

Word on the street is that the FDA is thinking about changing the BMI eligibility for lap band surgery. Turns out, I would totally be eligible for weight-loss surgery if I wanted it . . . which I don't, thanks.

But seriously, this is crazy town! You want to know why? Because here's how it's going down:

"The FDA meeting was held at the request of Allergan, Inc., the manufacturer of the Lap-Band device. Allergan also conducted the study presented to the advisory committee.

Dr. Karen L. Woods chaired the panel meeting. Dr. Woods is a stockholder in Allergan, Inc. but was granted a waiver by the FDA. (ed. note: can I get another SERIOUSLY?) She did not cast a vote on the new guidelines. In a statement regarding her waiver the FDA said, "Dr. Woods was selected because she has expertise in therapeutic endoscopy, which is important for the deliberations of the panel, and has experience serving as a chair." (ed. note: so you're telling me that her expertise was important, and yet, she didn't get to cast a vote . . . and that there was literally no other person available with therapeutic endoscopy and chairing on their resume? - - - - wait for it - - - - SERIOUSLY?!)

(Highlighting and notes added by me, in case you weren't catching the obvious crazy.)

-Cited from the Huffington Post

Okay, okay. It's the Huffington Post. Maybe they're embellishing. Maybe Allergan, Inc. is a company that's really passionate about getting people healthy; who dogmatically (and ignorantly) believe that they're aiding Americans by helping them lose those extra pounds that are allegedly killing everyone.

I don't know guys, I don't even think Pollyanna could find a silver lining here.

According to the New York Times, "Allergan, known mostly for its Botox product . . . wants to reverse slowing sales of the Lap-Band that the company attributes to the weak economy. In the first nine months of this year, sales of its obesity products, mostly Lap-Band, fell 4 percent, to $182.4 million."

Aren't you so sad for them? That they only made $182.4 million? It's a shame really.

So, Botox. That's a product that definitely helps people. I mean, Botox can help in treating painful neurological and muscles disorders. . . Did you know that? Well, it does. . . . But I'm pretty sure you mostly know about the wrinkle-erasing part.

Alright. Maybe Botox turned out to have some nice cosmetology benefits as a nice little surprise and Allergan really has a whole-body feel when you look at everything else they do.

Cue Allergan's website. Click their "About Us" page. It says, "From diverse strengths come important new therapies that make a real difference. Allergan is a global, technology-driven, multi-specialty health care company pursuing therapeutic advances to help patients live life to their fullest potential. " See? You judged too quickly.

Let's check out their products. Now they have a chance to show us their "multi-specialty health care". Well, they have a lot of eye drops. Glaucoma prevention stuff . . . that's nice. I appreciate that my grandma can still see. So, yeah. Good things. Next up: Lap-band. Right, we knew that.

Okay, so next up we have two products for breast augmentation, one for eyelash growth enhancement, a skin cream to fill wrinkles . . .scratch that, FOUR lines of skin cream to get that baby bottom feeling, medication for overactive bladders and lots of products for acne (which, turns out, I used once upon a time and it didn't work and made my skin scaley . . . but I digress into personal bias . . . this information is to be stricken from your deliberations of judgment).

Anyway, my point is that the majority of products found at Allergan are mostly cosmetic. Now, don't get me wrong. I have appreciated good acne creams and, like I said, love having senior citizens with sight . . . but there seems to be a high percentage of cosmetic focus here. And really, when it comes right down to it, companies like money.

All I'm trying to share is that it's SCARY that the FDA is handing over the reigns for health and safety judgments to drug companies . . . and cosmetic-based ones at that! How many people do you know that are overweight and have been searching for years for that magic-bullet and would do this in a heartbeat if they qualified? Probably a few.

As "safe" as the procedure is supposed to be, there's a lot of confusion on the details. And who's telling us it's safe anyway? The FDA? Allergan? Studies funded by Allergan? . . . Even though death is a very low side-effect on this one, it's still a side-effect and it's amazing how many people know someone who has had a bad experience . . .

Be skeptical. Please.