Weight Loss Surgery Support:
Why It's So Important & How to Find What You Need

Actively participating in a good weight loss surgery support group will not only make the tough times easier, but it has also been proven to result in as much as 12% more excess weight loss and a 10% lower body mass index…

• Purpose of support groups
• Weight loss differences of bariatric surgery support group attendees
• The support group experience – what to look for
• How to find the best in-person support group for you
• How to find the best online support group for you

The purpose of your
weight loss surgery support group

The ultimate purpose of support group attendance is to help you achieve and maintain your goal weight in a way that is as physically and mentally healthy as possible.

But what’s the point? Can’t you get all of the support you need from friends and family?

To answer these questions, consider the interactions in other areas of your life. For example, when discussing child care, would you rather talk with another parent or one of your single friends? When venting about something that really frustrates you at work, would you rather the listener be a work colleague or your next door neighbor?

While many patients have partners and family who offer unending support, talking with someone who is intimately familiar with your struggles is essential. Despite its many advantages, weight loss surgery will bring about one of the most challenging times in your life and there will be times when you need encouragement and advice from people who have been in your shoes.

Common areas that bariatric surgery patients choose help from their weight loss surgery support group over help from friends and family include…

• Fear before surgery
• Questions about the future
• Temptations and how to overcome them
• Impatience or frustration regarding how quickly the weight is coming off
• Learning how to interact with the world in your new body
• Overcoming depression relating to your new diet and changes to existing relationships (both in and out of the home)
• Diet and recipe tips
• Relationship advice for at-home and work relationships

In addition to working with others who are sharing your experience, good weight loss support groups are moderated by a bariatric professional who can provide medically accurate advice to questions that come up. Guest speakers ranging from other patients to medical professionals are also common.

Weight loss differences of those who attend a Bariatric surgery support group

Participating in support groups goes well beyond sharing experiences and advice… in addition to the invaluable encouragement and support attendees receive, they also result in more weight loss.

Several studies have shown that regular weight loss support group attendees lose as much as 12% more excess weight than patients who do not attend support groups…

The weight loss surgery support group experience: what to look for

First, know that there are good support groups and not-so-good support groups. During your search for an in-person support group (we will discuss online weight loss support groups further down the page), the following 4 points are a must...

• Meetings are regularly scheduled (i.e. the first Monday of each month).
• Led (“moderated”) by a medical professional. Common moderators include a dietitian or nutritionist, bariatric nurse or mental health counselor.

• Encourage participation from all participants and not dominated by a small percentage of attendees. Effective moderators are good at getting everyone to share their opinions and experience.
• Geared towards the positive. Talking about problems and challenges will be an important part of your meetings, but negativity should not be the overarching feeling when you walk away. A good moderator is effective at keeping the meeting upbeat and encouraging.

If the initial group meeting you attend does not have each of the above, move on to a different one.

A good weight loss surgery support group may also have one or more of the following…

• Guest speakers with expertise relating to discussion topics
• Contact information of other group members or a “buddy system” that pairs you up with an individual to call when times get tough.
• Referrals to other groups as you progress. For example, at 2 years after surgery, you may want to focus on your current issues rather than issues related to surgery and recovery.
• Clothing Swaps. You will be shedding the pounds quickly for at least the first year, and buying new clothes to keep up with your weight loss can be time consuming and expensive. Some support groups encourage clothing swaps that allow members to share clothes that no longer fit with other patients.

If a group you find and like does not have the above, consider taking the initiative to get them added.

How to find the best in-person weight loss surgery support group for you

In-person weight loss surgery support groups are not “one size fits all.” You’ll need to apply your own preferences to find the one that’s right for you.

In addition to the “must-haves” listed in the previous section, consider the following…

• How many participants?

The bigger the group, the less time each participant will have to discuss their issues and the more anonymous each will be. The smaller the group, the more attention and direct feedback you will receive.

• How specialized?

Some groups have attendees at all stages of their new life while others focus on specific areas such as diet or nutrition or specific timeframes like ‘more than 6 months after surgery.’ Groups with a broader focus can be good from an educational perspective, but once you learn the ropes you may find that a focused group is more beneficial.

• Do you feel welcomed and comfortable?

The weight loss surgery support group you choose should feel like a warm and inviting place where you can share your troubles and offer advice freely and openly. If the group has most of the above points covered but “just doesn’t feel right,” move on.

Now you know what to look for in a weight loss surgery support group, but how do you actually find them?

First, talk with your bariatric surgery team. There is a good chance that your surgeon’s office…

• Coordinates their own groups,
• Works with a hospital that coordinates group meetings or
• Can refer you to one or more unaffiliated bariatric surgery support groups

If you have given your surgeon’s groups a shot and feel that they are not a good fit, try calling other hospitals and other weight loss surgery centers in your area. Even though you were not treated by them, they should be happy to have your attendance.

• Click here to find and contact other local weight loss surgery centers to ask about their support groups

If you are still unable to find a group that feels right after working with all of the hospitals and bariatric surgeons in your area, consider starting your own group. Your surgeon may even allow you to use their facilities and may be willing to include a professional on their staff as your moderator.

Regardless of which in-person group you decide to move forward with, we recommend also finding and using one or more online weight loss surgery support groups…

How to find the best online weight loss surgery support group for you

Online weight loss support groups should play an important part in your preparation, recovery and long-term goals due to several advantages they have over face-to-face support groups.

Despite their upsides, there are a couple of inherent problems with online groups that should keep you attending your in-person groups as well.

For more details and a list of the best groups, click here: Bariatric surgery forum: Top gastric bypass forum, lap band forums and forums for other procedures.

To take full advatage of the Internet towards achieving your weight loss and maintenance goals, compliment your in-person and online support groups with the following resources:

• Reviews of the top free diet journal & exercise journal options
• Ongoing weight loss surgery education

[Last editorial review/modification of this page: 11/8/2011]