Is Al Roker a Food Addict? Are Others?

The Story of His 100 Pound Weight Loss

Pictured below is the cover of the November 18, 2002, issue of People magazine.

 

In this story Al Roker (morning NBC Today TV weatherman star) describes his lifelong fight with compulsive overeating and how he has handled it to this point in his life.

 

In this article he describes how at age 44 years he was driven to gastric bypass

surgery because at 5’8’’ tall and 320 pounds “he had no clothes he could wear.”

He underwent the surgery in March of 2002 and has lost 100 pounds to date.

 

Several facts from the story about Mr. Roker’s surgery and his personal history related to compulsive overeating are listed below:

·          Surgery Cost $50,000.00

·          Risk of death with this type of surgery 1 in 200 surgeries

·          His intestinal tract will never function normally again.

·          He may regain his weight.

·          At present this surgery is only recommended for patients 100 pounds or more overweight.

·          We feel there are better treatment alternatives for patients and discuss them below.

 

Excerpts from Mr. Roker’s story are as follows:

·          Mr. Roker was a passionate foodie who once ate Quarter Pounders in pairs and Krispy Kreme doughnuts by the half dozen.

·          The operation reduced the size of his stomach from the size of a deflated

      football to the size of an egg.

·          Mr. Roker loved eating so much he has written a cookbook on barbecuing.

·          He suffered physical (and interpersonal) problems due to his obesity and food dependence.

·          His father was concerned about his Al Roker’s obesity and advised the younger Roker to get help as Roker senior lay on his deathbed.

·          Roker “had failed” a variety of “diets” including Atkins, Scarsdale, the

      Beverly Hills Diet, the pineapple diet, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig,

      Nutri/System, Sugar Busters, and the Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet.

·          He blames part of his problem on factors beyond his control (“ We’re from the Caribbean-he was raised in New York State-We’re stocky, We’re low to the ground. We’re built to survive hurricanes.”).

·          “At a certain point I just started eating and I never stopped.”

·          “Over time food had become a coping mechanism. I’m upset about

       something, I’m gonna eat. I’m feeling good, I’m gonna eat.”

·          “This is no different than alcoholism or chemical dependency. It’s a disease.”

·          For his “last dinner” (before the surgery) he said,” I’m having Haagen-Dazs, steaks, onion rings. I was like a whale with plankton-just open your mouth and inhale (food).”

·          He took 10 days off from work before returning after his surgery.

·          The surgery physically limits the volume of food his stomach can hold and ,” I went from eating 3000 calories per day (Note: A conservative estimate –REB) to 300 calories per day.         Click here to finish story