A statement from the office of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has confirmed that the governor underwent weight loss surgery three months ago, according to The New York Times. The rotund Christie has often been criticized for his size and at times it has become a political liability.
In Christie's first campaign for governor, his weight became an issue after an ad run by then Gov. Jon S. Corzine depicted Christie getting out of an S.U.V. in super slow motion, an unflattering sight, while accusing him of "throwing his weight around." The ad can be seen below.
Christie had the lap band surgery on Feb. 16 and checke into the surgical center under a fake name, according to the New York Post. The surgery consists of tying a band around the stomach that limits the amount of food that can be consumed at once and making the patient feel fuller sooner.
The surgery has caused speculation over whether this is an indicator that Christie is running for president in 2016. A donor that spoke with the New York Post said that Christie is sure to run.
"This means he's running for president," the anonymous donor said. "He's showing people he can get his weight in control. It's the one thing holding him back."
A week prior to undergoing the surgery Christie spoke at a news conference about his struggles to keep his weight in check.
"If you talk to anybody in this room who has struggled with their weight, what they will tell you is that every month, every year there is a plan," Christie said. "And so the idea that somehow I don't care about this, of course I care about it, and I'm making the best effort I can and sometimes I'm successful and other times I'm not."
Christie suggests the surgery was motivated by a desire to be healthier, not political aspirations.
"It's so much more than that," Christie said referring to a presidential campaign. "I've struggled with this issue for 20 years. For me this is about turning 50 and looking at my children and wanting to be there for them."
Sources have told the New York Post that Christie has already lost 40 pounds since the surgery.
