An estimated 200,000 obese New Zealanders would benefit from stomach stapling, an operation to cure obesity, but most will miss out as only a few are publicly funded.

"Family members or mates want to go watch a movie...and I would always make up an excuse and say no yous go, because the seats are pretty small. It's real embarrassing," says Tyrall.

The surgery makes the stomach smaller by joining or "stapling" the top part of the stomach so the person feels fuller quicker and therefore eats less.

Some surgeons are lobbying the government to fund more stomach stapling operations, saying it will help save the health system money in the long run.

"All of this country's diabetics are costing a lot of money and they are going to die early and they are going to cost the country a great deal more money before they die. We can cure that condition through this operation," says surgeon Richard Stubbs.

"Stomach stapling has a place but it is definitely not the only thing...what you have to do is combat obesity, is advance on a broad front. You have to make sure you have the healthy eating, healthy action strategy, environmental change," says Ministry of Health spokesperson Sandy Dawson.

"To consider this is entirely a cosmetic operation is totally inappropriate. These are people who have a disease. Severe obesity causes a variety of other diseases. It shortens life, it changes quality of life and it's not directly under the control of the individuals concerned," says Stubbs.

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