Before and After Photos - Celebrities Who Have Had Weight Loss Surgery

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TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie — whose weight has long been the subject of public worry and late-night talk show jokes — secretly underwent lap-band stomach surgery in February in an effort to shed pounds, his office confirmed today.

The New York Post reported this morning that Christie said family and friends urged him to take the step after he turned 50 in September.

"I've struggled with this issue for 20 years," the governor told the newspaper. "For me, this is about turning 50 and looking at my children and wanting to be there for them."

Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Christie, confirmed the Post's report but declined further comment.

Christie, a husband and father of four, stressed that he was not motivated by a possible run for president, the Post's report said. The governor is considered a leading Republican presidential candidate in 2016, and his weight is seen as a potential liability.

"It's so much more important than that," Christie told the newspaper.

"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.

Sources told the Post that Christie has already lost 40 pounds. He has never publicly revealed his weight.

Photos: Chris Christie through the years 46 Gallery: Photos: Chris Christie through the years

The governor's girth has been a topic of conversation throughout the first three years in office. Earlier this year, he poked fun at himself by scarfing down a pair of jelly doughnuts during an interview with David Letterman — one of the many talk-show hosts who have peppered monologues with quips about Christie's weight.

In the wake of the Feb. 4 interview, a former White House physician said she feared Christie would have a heart attack in office if he were elected president.

"I'm worried he may have a stroke," Connie Mariano, M.D., told CNN. "It's almost a like a time bomb waiting to happen unless he addresses those issues before running for office."

Christie responded by calling the doctor "a hack" who should "shut up."



Less than two weeks later, Christie checked into a surgery center in New York City on Feb. 16 under a fake name, according to the Post's report.

Christie said he had conversations beforehand with Jets coach Rex Ryan, who underwent the lap-band procedure last year, losing more than 100 pounds. The governor said he used the same surgeon as Ryan, according to the report.

Lap-band surgery — or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding — makes your stomach smaller, limiting the amount of food it can hold, according to WebMD. It helps you eat less and feel full sooner.

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery says that about 200,000 people in the U.S. have weight loss surgery each year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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