Weight Loss Support Group Summary - June 2023

The  support group was very well attended last Monday night with a mixture of new and current patients.  

There were a number of long term patients including people who had surgery more than nine years ago.

It was a Patient Driven evening, which allows patients to both  give and receive support from peers and ask questions, in a facilitated environment.  

The takeaway message from the group was:

1. Bariatric surgery is a process not an event and it is important to be kind to yourself along the way.
   • Life changes and challenges may happen along the journey which may impact on or derail your progress.
2. Seek support if you are struggling and reach out to your team.
   • Attending the support group is a strategy to seek support and reinforce lifestyle and behavioural changes that are important to long term weight maintenance.
   • The holistic team approach is valuable and attending follow up appointments  with all our team members is important.
3. Word of the night was "discerning".  
   • Strive to be a discerning eater which comes from an abundance not a deprivation mindset, with regards to developing a healthy relationship with food.

Dr Michele Van Vuuren, Pyschologist.