Weight Watchers and Bariatric Surgery: A Good Match?

Monday, 31 August 2009 10:09

Many bariatric surgery (another term for weight loss surgery) patients fail to realize the struggle they will face after their procedure. Bariatric surgery is not a one-stop solution for successful and long-term weight loss. In order for patients to keep their lost weight off, they must maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and well-balanced meals.

ABC News reports that bariatric patients usually regain 20% of their lost weight in the years after the procedure. However, some patients have gained almost all of their lost weight back due to poor eating habits and/or stretched stomach pouches. Even though "junk" food like milkshakes and heavy soups go down easily, many patients fail to realize that these types of food can still lead to weight gain, regardless of if they had bariatric surgery or not.

Even though bariatric surgery patients are told that they should receive counseling before and after the procedure, many do not follow this advice, usually because they cannot afford it or think they can be successful with their weight loss on their own. However, this is simply not true. A study mentioned in HealthDay reports that bariatric patients who attended 4 or more support groups in the first 12 months after their surgery lost a greater amount of weight than patients who didn't attend any support groups.

Because Weight Watchers is a support group-style program that meets once a week, it may be beneficial for bariatric patients to attend the meetings. Weight Watchers promotes a healthy lifestyle, which centers around "4 Pillars". These are: making wise food choices, being physically active, developing positive thinking skills, and being in a supportive environment. Weight Watchers notes that "these four pillars are especially important for those who have undergone bariatric surgery." Furthermore, Weight Watchers describes itself as a lifestyle modification program, not a "diet." This positive outlook on weight loss may help bariatric patients be more successful with their weight loss efforts.

Weight Watchers members attend a meeting once a week, where they weigh in in front of a staff member, who records their weight in their personal booklet. Staff members are the only person to see their actual weight, and members are usually weighed in private or on a scale where the electronic reading is behind the desk.

Once everyone has been weighed, a group leader will speak for 30-45 minutes on the weekly topic, which usually involves healthy eating habits, tips for fitting in exercise, or the emotional toll of losing weight around friends and family members who aren't. Group participation is frequent, but not necessary. Different memberships are available that allow members to track what they've eaten online and watch exercise videos that were designed for Weight Watchers members. Online message boards and a social community also provide additional support for members in between weekly meetings.

Besides attending Weight Watchers meetings soon after surgery, many patients enroll in the program several years after their procedure because they have begun to regain all or part of their lost weight. This program can put them in a structured environment that may help them get back on track.

This weekly group support structure may help bariatric patients stay accountable and feel more responsible for their weight loss efforts. Seeing others in the weekly meetings who have lost a large amount of weight loss using Weight Watchers is also great motivation to continue losing weight until patients reach their goal.