Bariatric Surgery Support Groups Boost Patient Success

Having bariatric surgery does not guarantee that you will achieve your weight loss goal or the desired changes in health and quality of life.

Successful bariatric surgery patients recognize that while surgery is a potent tool for creating significant weight loss, their success ultimately depends on their ability to make lifelong changes in their eating and activity patterns and learn new behavioral skills when it comes to dealing with stress, anger, anxiety, and other emotions that may have driven them to eat in the past. Making all of these changes on your own can be challenging no matter how prepared and committed you are to changing your lifestyle.

Researchers who have reviewed patient outcomes data from many different bariatric surgery centers found that most patients lose weight within the first six months after surgery because of the dramatic change in their stomach and, for many, intestinal capacity. However, between 18 and 24 months later, somewhere between 20% and 30% of patients regain a significant amount of weight due to binge eating. This is a fairly common behavior in individuals who were overweight enough to qualify for bariatric surgery in the first place. In some instances, the patients maintain a new healthier weight, but exhibit other serious behavioral problem like alcoholism, gambling, or promiscuity.

Moreover, weight loss is not the only criteria for judging a patient’s postoperative success. Achieving sound nutritional status is critical to the patient’s long-term health. It is possible to maintain a lower weight while developing nutritional deficiencies if you don’t follow the post-surgical diet with great care.

Benefits of Support Groups

One of the best ways to improve your chances of success is to participate in a weight loss support group designed for bariatric surgery patients. In 2005, the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) developed a Center of Excellence Award which included the requirement that qualifying bariatric surgery programs provide their patients with both pre-surgical and long-term, post-surgical support. As of June 2007, the support groups need to be supervised or led by a licensed healthcare professional.

Support groups provide a sense of camaraderie and encouragement and appropriate guidance on the dietary practices that support your nutritional status. They also give the bariatric surgery team an opportunity to spot patients who may be struggling and intervene before a crisis develops.

There is no one best format for a support group. The structure and offerings of support groups vary. Some are patient-led and some are facilitated by a health care practitioner. Others feature speakers who present on special topics like dealing with unsupportive family and friends, long-term nutrition, and plastic surgery. Some hold monthly clothing swaps and opportunities to taste various protein supplements. Large surgery programs often offer separate support groups for people who have had restrictive procedures since their dietary requirements and digestive issues are different than those of patients who have undergone a more invasive gastrointestinal bypass procedure.

Needing support is not a sign of weakness. In fact, acknowledging that you need assistance is a sign of strength because it signals that you are being realistic about the weight loss challenges facing you. You may be interested to know that the need for support during weight loss and management is not unique to bariatric surgery patients. Dr. Thomas Wadden, a behaviorist known for his research in the field of weight loss, has found that support groups improve people’s ability to lose weight and keep it off, regardless of the weight loss technique they use. Overweight people often report a sense of isolation when trying to manage their weight. Successful support groups provide healthy competition (if he can do it, so can I) as well as camaraderie and reliable information. 

Informal Support

Some bariatric surgery patients feel they get enough support from their family and friends. If you are one of these individuals, it is important to recognize that while the people in your social network can be super cheerleaders and provide plenty of day-to-day encouragement, they typically do not have the expertise a support group leader can provide when it comes to helping you adjust your diet or deal with painful emotional issues.

Conversely, don’t be discouraged if those closest too you are opposed to the surgery out of concern for your safety. While having the support of family and friends can make the bariatric surgery process easier, it is not necessary. Many people in this situation have been successful, despite the misgivings of family and friends because of the reinforcement and accurate information they obtained from a bariatric support group.

Additional resources are available online. Be aware that most web-based resources are run by former bariatric surgery patents, not healthcare professionals, so they should be used as a supplement to, but not in place of, the information and support provided by your bariatric surgeon.

If you are planning bariatric surgery, give yourself the greatest chance of success by participating in all pre- and post-operative support groups your surgeon offers.