People who don't understand what wls is all about often make the mistake of thinking it is an 'easy option' or a 'short cut', which is understandable. However, it is the exact opposite of easy or short.
Yes weight loss can be greatly accelerated by wls but the process is hard, painful and requires life-long maintenance. The truth is that diet and exercise is the most sensible option to lose weight. Another truth is that diet and exercise work for almost every person. The important difference is that people with prolonged and severe obesity can't keep the weight off, it always comes back and brings friends. If you took a poll of all the people on this site that have had wls surgery you would find that they all have at one time or another had great success on various diets. The problem is that over the years of dieting and re-gaining weight, their bodies have become resistant to weight loss (yo-yo diet syndrome) and they have developed significant weight-related health issues. For many, it is not about getting in those skinny jeans anymore it is about living long enough to see their kids graduate or possibly to even be able to have children at all.
It is a road that is not for everyone and should only be taken on with the advice of medical professionals. There is a very long and involved screening process for the surgery to help weed out those who are looking for a quick fix or using it for vanity. Only those who can prove a medical neccessity can even be considered for surgery through the NHS, so nobody need fear that this is a new trend of get slim quick. If people only understood how hard a road it is to wls and after they would not be so quick to say it is not hard work or as good as the 'normal' way.