Its not an easy fix. And, in some cases, rather risky. Post surgery life is not easy. Its a lifetime of extremely small portions, supplements and pills, constant monitoring over a very long period of time, perhaps forever. You are never "normal", you are post bariatric surgery. Something very abnormal and rather freaky was done to your body  I see it from a purely economic view. As a society, its a lot more expensive to treat the following illnesses than provide the surgery. Statistically, very few obese manage to loose weight. its about 10% moving von BMI 25-30 to under 25 5% from 35 -30 to under 30 BMI and 3% from over 35 BMI to under 30  Even in the aforementioned year before surgery, with constant help (Exercise is x week mandatory, nutritionist is seen 1x Mo psychiatrist 1-2x/Mo, Support group 1x Week, Doctors appointment every 6-8 weeks) no one loses so much weight they wouldn't need the surgery anymore.  Don't ask me why they don't manage. They don't. There are dozens and dozens of reasons, some very tragic and individual but in the end... they just don't make it. The success stories you read online of people losing massive amounts of weight. They are the 3-5% who made it.  So, trying to change the other 97% with exercise and nutrition is futile. And I sometimes wish we could skip that year long assesment, it just costs money