Christie’s Secret Surgery

Read into it what you will: that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie quietly underwent gastric lap-band surgery in February to shed pounds in order to gain more political heft for a presidential bid or, as he maintains, that he finally decided to slim down so he could be healthy for his four children.

Either way, the result could be a svelter Christie. Lap-band surgery is among the safest of the weight-loss operations, and the latest study of nearly 1,800 patients should be encouraging for the governor. The procedure, along with a healthier diet and a regular exercise program, helped morbidly obese people lose an average of 58 lb. over 12 years.

Christie, 50, may be well on track toward that goal, having already lost nearly 40 lb. Thanks to an implanted silicone band that acts as a noose around his stomach, Christie admitted that at a recent steak-house dinner, he felt full after downing just a third of his meal. Other than a slimmer silhouette, there won’t be any outward signs of the surgery. Doctors can adjust the band by injecting saline through a port hidden under the skin that inflates a balloon surrounding the band. Once Christie reaches his target weight, the band can be removed or remain in place permanently to help curb his appetite. Elected office may be a harder habit to break.