Robyn McGee is an African-American female whose sister died after undergoing weight loss surgery. Robyn has gone on to research the issue of obesity amongst Afrian-American females and has recently published a book about this.

In 2004, 150,000 Americans underwent gastric by-pass surgery. According to McGee, weight-loss surgeons say the morbidity rate is one in 200. While a University of Washington study says the death rate is one in 50 "when taking into account all weight-loss patients at all hospitals that will suffer from and die from various surgery-related complications such as blood clots, fluid leakage and infections."

This is not a diet book. This book provides a good overview of the risk/benefits of surgery and other options for dealing with weight problems.