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Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor and rising Republican star whose weight has been estimated as high as 450 pounds, just admitted to the New York Post that he secretly went under the knife for lap-band weight loss surgery.
That’s the procedure that cinches a strap around your stomach so you won’t eat as much, no matter how much you love to eat.
Christie, 50, claims he had the surgery in February so he could stay alive long enough to see his kids grow up — not to make himself a more attractive presidential candidate:
For me, this is about turning 50 and looking at my children and wanting to be there for them.
In 2011, Christie resisted heavy recruitment from G.O.P. forces and chose not to run for the presidential nomination. Despite his claims to the contrary, many analysts expect he’s gearing up for a run in 2016.
Post sources say Christie has already lost 40 pounds.
Here’s a graphic look at how lap-band surgery works:
