Chris Christie Undergoes Lap-Band Weight-Loss Surgery

Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor whose weight has often been a topic of conversation, underwent Lap-Band surgery in February to help him get down to a healthier weight, an aide to the governor told ABC News.

Lap-Band surgery is a form of bariatric surgery that is known to be less invasive, although it provides for slower weight loss. Unlike the more invasive surgeries, it’s done laparoscopically; it only requires a small incision to insert the silicone and titanium band around the stomach, according to the company’s website. The down side is that it requires follow up surgeries to tighten the band, and the slower process of losing weight can take at least two years.

Since getting Lap-Band surgery, Christie has reportedly lost about 30 lbs. And although many speculate that his turning to the surgery was caused by his 2016 presidential ambitions, the governor insists that it was family that drove his decision. “For me, this is about turning 50 and looking at my children and wanting to be there for them,” he told the New York Post.

“I know it sounds crazy to say that running for president is minor, but in the grand scheme of things, it was looking at Mary Pat and the kids and going, ‘I have to do this for them, even if I don’t give a crap about myself,’” he added.

Although some are surprised that the Garden State governor didn’t opt for a more extreme operation, Christie seems to be happy with the results of his Lap-Band surgery so far. “A week or two ago, I went to a steakhouse and ordered a steak and ate about a third of it and I was full,” he told the Post about his weakened appetite.