Bullshit. Please don't add to the misinformation. WLS approval is nothing like what TLC portrays. Unless you are going through a publically funded health system like Canada, the UK, Australia and NZ have where waits can be 6-8 years from referral to surgery, then 6 months is pretty much the maximum time that you'll have to wait if going through health insurance providers. Some insurers don't even require that, but pre-op testing can take up to 3 months because it often requires clearance from other specialists. I've never heard of a surgeon requiring a food diary. That's the job of a dietician. They will only "drop you" if you can't get clearances. Plus you generally don't even see a surgeon until those clearances are done. You might see them once (not always though) but most consults will be with other practice staff eg, general practitioner, dietician, exercise physiologist etc.
Yes their time is valuable if they have a full list. Bariatric surgeons these days are a dime a dozen. They need patients to get paid, and they charge like wounded bulls, with gap payments often in the many thousands of dollars. They aren't sending anyone with the money away, (and they generally have finance options they'll help you access), unless they can't get the required clearances. That's Amber's issue....she can't get pysch clearance.