SAMANTHA MAIDEN The Sunday Telegraph January 27, 2013
The big man of politics and father-of-three has already shed 20kg since undergoing the invasive gastric sleeve surgery on December 18 - and he plans to shed another 20kg this year as he shapes up in his bid to take on Treasurer Wayne Swan's job. Mr Hockey said the innocent question from daughter Adelaide, 6, came while they watched the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton nearly two years ago and got him thinking about making the change. "I've climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and (walked the) Kokoda (Track) and played sport," Mr Hockey told The Sunday Telegraph. "There was no diabetes, but I made a decision about what's best for my family, for my career and what's going to serve my health."I want to be healthy. I want to be around to see my grandchildren. I want to be my very best." Gastric sleeve surgery is irreversible and reduces A patient's stomach to around 20 per cent of the original size. Reluctant to discuss the surgery, Mr Hockey admits he has felt self-conscious about the attention and compliments he has attracted since the surgery. His political opponents have long alluded to his size in Parliament with Mr Swan referring to him as "Sloppy Joe". Last month he accused Mr Swan of bullying him about his weight on Melbourne radio. "I'm still bullied in Parliament,"Mr Hockey said. "Wayne Swan has a go at me for being fat." "I think we've all got to take more responsibility, and I'm trying to do that." Despite previous reports he had undergone a gastric bypass, Mr Hockey confirmed he underwent gastric sleeve surgery in Sydney. Since then he has been on a liquid diet but has recently begun to eat solids. Gastric sleeve surgery is for the obese and morbidly obese, allowing a return to more fibrous solid foods over time such as steak, sausages and bread, which is not always possible with a gastric band surgery.
Click here for the Peter FitzSimons interview on Channel 7's Sunday Night program -
http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/video/watch/18552791/slim-joe/
Please Contact Melbourne Bariatrics on 03 9770 7189 for more information or to make an appointment.