Obesity is a growing problem which needs to be tackled as it can lead to unnecessary further medical problems, not to mention cost.

While obesity is obviously associated with people who are considered by doctors to be fat or overweight, there is a worrying and growing phenomenon that some women who would not fall into this category are requesting cosmetic surgery.

A director of one cosmetic surgeons’ practice recently told reporters: “These women are between size eight and 14 and yet they want gastric bands and gastric bypasses either to lose small amounts of weight or ensure they don’t gain weight.”

One of the women cited also told reporters that she felt the only way for her to get rid of a stone in weight was to have cosmetic surgery. She added that she had seen women much larger than her maintaining their new found low weight without trying, but she has to visit the gym regularly and watch her diet. As such, she felt cosmetic surgery was a better option.

The woman in question is a mother of two. She told reporters: “It would help me lose the weight but it would also make sure I don’t put it all back on, which is usually what happens.”

Many professionals believe that this kind of attitude is fast becoming a problem because the individuals concerned falsely believe that having cosmetic surgery to cure obesity should be the norm. In fact it should be a last resort for most people. Maintaining proper diet and regular exercise are still the major factors that help keep weight down.