Telling Children About Weight Loss Surgery (WLS)

Monday, 05 October 2009 11:25

If one or both parents are scheduled to have some form of weight loss surgery, it's important to take time as a family to sit down and explain to the children what the procedure entails and how life will be different for everyone after it is over. Being clear and honest with children is the best way to help them feel involved and to lessen their feel about having a parent go through surgery.

Why Weight Loss Surgery?

Explain to children why you or your partner is going through weight loss surgery. It's okay to mention the health risks involved with being obese without scaring the children. Give a few examples where being overweight has been a burden, eg. not being able to walk long distances, having to take extra medicine, having to buy bigger clothes, etc. These are good examples that highlight an obese persons' daily struggles without making the children worry or feel overly frightened about their parent's health.

What Weight Loss Surgery Does

Explain the weight loss surgery is a procedure that will help you or your partner eat better, and by eating the right foods, it will become easier to lose weight and become healthier. Be sure to stress that WLS isn't a "magic solution" that will automatically make a person skinny. Explain that it takes a lot of work to get healthy and it may take several months to a year or longer.

New Needs

After surgery, WLS patients will have different needs and behavior, depending on the type of procedure they received. During recovery time, children should be aware that a parent may be hospitalized for a few days and may still not feel well once they get home. Explain that after surgery, the parent may need some time alone to get better. Try to come up with ways ahead of time as a family that children may be able to help out while you or your parent recover from surgery. Some ideas that will make children feel included and helpful include doing extra chores, helping with younger siblings (bathing, dressing, etc.), and being quiet while the parent is sleeping.

New Way of Life

Stress to children that after you or your partner recovers, life is going to be different for the entire family. Because weight loss surgery is a way of life, explain that your family is going to eat healthier and be more active after the procedure. Additionally, beginning an exercise and eating plan before surgery is a great way to get the children used to the idea of a healthier lifestyle before their parent goes in for surgery.

While explaining the surgery and how life will be different, stay positive and upbeat. Weight loss surgery will help you or your partner get healthier so your family can be together for many years to come.