Mercy Bariatrics in collaboration with Bariatric Support Centres International is proud to offer a Bariatric Support Group!

Support Group provides a platform to share and discuss mainly the emotional and mental aspect of weight-loss surgery and the challenging journey to health and well-being. It is also a valuable aid in learning and feeling comfortable with modifications in the daily diet and lifestyle of post-op patients.

Talking and sharing the experience with other patients can help and support you throughout your journey. It can also help you realize any limitations you may feel, how to overcome them and that these limitations likely pale in comparison to those experienced by the person who continues to be morbidly obese.

By building patients networks and communities, and through increased knowledge, experiences and a desire to succeed you will benefit from your time in support group.

 

Support Group Mission Statement

Our Support Group is a valuable resource for people who have had weight-loss surgery.

Our meetings offer education, encouragement and support to help each patient to reach and maintain their optimum weight loss and health.

They also provide insight for supporters and information for those interested in learning more about the surgical treatment of obesity.

The support group is open for all patients; pre and post op, their family and friends, and for everybody who is considering a bariatric option.

Support Group is held once a month on a Sunday and is free of charge, though a humble gold coin donation is appreciated.

It is held from 3pm for 60 to 90 minutes and located at The Banks Reserve Pavilion, 60 Joel Terrace Mt Lawley (see map).

 

For more details and dates of upcoming sessions please contact Stephanie at:
steph@mercybariatrics.com.au or phone (08) 9272 0420.

 

On-line Option is also available:

BSCI is pleased to host two free TeleSupport Groups (via telephone or Skype) a month!

For more details, dates and registration please visit here.

 

 

RESEARCH ON SUPPORT GROUPS IN BARIATRICS

There is now great evidence to link support structures post Bariatric surgery (i.e. support group) to success rates with excess weight and weight-loss maintenance.

One such American research from 2004 states:

• “…group therapy and support focus on helping patients make lasting lifestyle adjustments. This includes changing eating habits, learning more about diet and exercise, and following nutritional regimen… group therapy is an excellent venue to allow patients to share successes and failures.”

• “Group therapy provides the needed bridge between the worlds of “self” and “others”… It provides a sense of communityand support.”

• “There is strong evidence to suggest that a social structure, such as a support group, provides meaningful support, encourages the expression of relevant emotions, and buffers patients from stress. It has the potential to impact positively on adjustment to the surgery. Hildebrandt noted that patients who receive group therapy as an adjunct to their Bariatric surgical regimen lost greater amounts of weight than their counterparts who did not regularly attend support groups.”

• “As patients progress through the group process, they develop a new sense of self.”

Another research from 2008 determines:

• “Support group meeting attendance is associated with better weight loss.”