Saundra Beauchamp-Parke outlines the practicalities of considering, undergoing and recovering from gastric surgery. Her readable and thoughtful account will enable families and friends of sufferers to understand the problem better and people who are seriously overweight to recognize that they are not alone. Interwoven with the stories of people who have undergone the surgery, it is also an essential guide for health and social care professionals working with this group of clients.