Carnie Wilson and Al Roker did it. And according to the Associated Press, throngs of Americans want to join the portly celebrities in the newest surgical weight loss fad: stomach stapling.


But in order to qualify for stapling surgery, patients must be at least 100 pounds overweight. What’s a gal to do if she’s tipping the scales at a mere 80 pounds too much? Trends seem to say, gain more weight! Yes, the AP says, “Desperate patients who are turned down for the surgery because they don’t weigh enough are returning to doctors’ offices weeks or months later after intentionally gaining 10, 15 or even 25 pounds to qualify.”


Ridiculous? Certainly. Any regulation that incentivizes weight gain for obese people seeking long-term weight loss and better health certainly needs to be reexamined pretty carefully. Until then, hand over the Ding Dongs and Big Macs — it’s time to chow down!