No matter what change you are facing in life, everyone needs someone to talk to. For those seeking supportive help after bariatric surgery, support groups are an essential part of the recovery process, both physically and emotionally. We encourage all weight loss patients to add a bariatric surgery support group to their schedule.
How a Bariatric Surgery Support Group Can Help You Lose Weight
Support and encouragement is helpful for any chronic illness and especially after bariatric surgery. This supportive group is geared toward the unique needs of its members and is especially important for bariatric surgery patients to achieve their maximum weight loss. Support and encouragement is especially helpful after six months when the rate of weight loss from surgery starts to level off or decline.
Although bariatric support groups are not psychotherapy groups, they do provide patients with a safe and accepting place to vent their frustrations, share their weight loss situations and receive both comfort and encouragement from one another.
Bariatric Online Support Groups are Convenient
If you would prefer not to join a group, you can find immediate support in the privacy of your home or office through the internet. You can exchange emails with those in other states or countries who may, in turn, offer ideas for staying with your weight loss plan. You can search online for reputable bariatric surgery support groups and ask to join.
Even social media such as Facebook has many support groups for those who have undergone bariatric surgery. You can find general “bariatric surgery support groups” or search under specific types of surgery such as "gastric sleeve support." Don’t hesitate to join a group for the extra encouragement that will see you through to successful weight loss and improved long-term health.
Sources
PubMed: Association between support group attendance and weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
National Institutes of Health: Banding Together. An Investigation of Post-Surgery Support Groups for Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Patients.
Obesity Surgery: Do support groups play a role in weight loss after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding?