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New Jersey governor Chris Christie secretly had weight loss surgery, spurring rumors of a potential 2016 Presidential run.

According to Bloomberg, Governor Christie had undergone the surgery on February 16. An outpatient procedure, he was back at home later that day. The procedure was such a secret that most of the people on his staff did not even know; he checked into the hospital for the lap band surgery under a pseudonym.

Christie had previously stated that he thought that gastric bypass surgery was too risky but, in receiving the lap band surgery, he joins a growing group of people who have turned to surgery when diet and exercise have failed. The lap band surgery consists of doctors affixing a rubber band around a person's stomach to reduce the amount of food that a person can eat before he feels full.

Though the lap band surgery has been embraced by some because it is a non-invasive, reversible procedure, the surgery has come under fire as of late because of complications. The treatment has been a linked to a variety of complications, like hernias and band erosion, which is when the band grows into a person's stomach.

Regardless, many people seek additional help in achieving weight loss. Obesity has become a growing public health concern in the world, with little comprehension on how exactly it occurs. It has also been linked to an elevated risk of other conditions like heart disease and diabetes; when Governor Christie was booked into a hospital for a few hours due to issues with asthma, The New York Times reports that many wondered how the governor could perform his job.

Chris Christie, the first-term Republican governor of New Jersey, has been in the national spotlight practically since his election in 2010. Since around that time, his weight has been a popular discussion as well. Though Governor Christie's weight is not publicly known, he is thought to be about 300 to 350 pounds.

Many people have commented on the governor's weight, and his size has served as fodder for comedians. Though the governor has described himself as "the healthiest fat guy you'll ever meet", with healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, his doctor had informed him that his luck would probably run out.

It is not clear why the governor hid the surgery. However, though many pundits point to the procedure as a sign that he is seriously mulling a 2016 Presidential bid, close friends and associates say that he only performed the surgery in order to quiet the concerns of his family.