In 109 pages and fifteen chapters authors Nicholson and Blackwood do a pretty decent job of discussing the issues that accompany the decision to pursue surgery for weight loss. The first few chapters touch on subjects you should ponder before seeing the surgeon, but the bulk of the book is about how the surgery will effect your life long term; physically, psychologically and emotionally.

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY: THE REAL SKINNY goes into more detail than I have encountered previously on how your choices may impact relationships ranging from coworkers, family and partners but perhaps even more importantly, how the issues that impact a person to become heavy in the first place are often laid bare by the loss of weight.

The book was published in part through the support of Northstar Healthcare but instead of being biased for the surgery in general, it clearly and honestly laid out what the weight loss surgery can do, and what it will not. Before reading this I didn't realize that every benefit the surgery provides will almost certainly disappear with time, leaving the time immediately after surgery as an almost Olympian race to lose as much of your weight as possible and develop permanent lifestyle changes that will help you remain healthy through the rest of your life. I definitely recommend the book for those who are seriously considering any form of bariatric surgical intervention in order to go into your first meeting with the specialist with eyes open.