Christie says weight-loss surgery was for 'family's future'

NEWARK -- Gov. Chris Christie underwent weight-loss surgery just 12 days after declaring himself on national television to be "basically the healthiest fat guy you've ever seen in your life."

He said Tuesday that he decided to have a band placed around his stomach to restrict how much food he can eat for his long-term health and for his family, not to lay the groundwork for running for president as a Republican in 2016.

"This is a hell of a lot more important to me than running for president," Christie, a father of four, said at a news conference in Newark, looking thinner than he did earlier this year. "This is about my family's future."

Two of Christie's children are still in elementary school. "I'm in this father business for a while," he said. "And I hope one day, dear God, to be in grandfather business."

Christie underwent the 40-minute procedure Feb. 16 at NYU Langone Medical Center after entering the hospital under a false name. The surgeon was Dr. George Fielding, who did the same for New York Jets coach Rex Ryan three years ago.

Experts say the operation could help Christie if he exercises and watches what he eats.

For years, he has made jokes about his waistline, bristled at remarks about it by others, and a few times admitted that it worried him.

He originally decided around the time he turned 50 last September to have the surgery in November. But superstorm Sandy's destructive blow to New Jersey pushed back the procedure until February.

The New York Post reported the surgery Tuesday. Christie said he never intended to make a public announcement -- and said the scrum of reporters at his news conference was "silly" and "ridiculous."

Christie has never disclosed how many pounds he was carrying, but it's been an issue during his career.

A campaign ad by then-Gov. Jon Corzine in 2009 accused Christie of "throwing his weight around" to get out of traffic tickets.

During a Feb. 4 appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman," Christie pulled out a doughnut and said his girth was "fair game" for comedians. To his "healthiest fat guy" boast, Letterman replied that he should make it the slogan for his re-election campaign.

Christie erupted two days later at comments from a former White House physician who said she hoped he would run for president but worried about him dying in office. The governor said Dr. Connie Mariano should "shut up."

Christie declined Tuesday to say how much weight he has lost since the surgery. But he said he has been eating less because he hasn't been as hungry and is working out with a personal trainer four times a week.