The role of support groups for people with obesity and those who chose bariatric surgery
The role of support groups for people with obesity and those who chose bariatric surgery We’ve known for some time that people who get good support, do better with their post-op journey (1). From a personal perspective, I know that joining a WLS (weight loss surgery) support group before I made my decision was absolutely essential. It felt like a safe space where no-one judged, and people were enormously generous with their time and empathy. That was in 2004 and boy, has the world of support groups and online resources changed since then! As I try to put myself in the shoes of someone dealing with obesity and looking for support, there seems to be a dizzying variety of options now available. There are online forums specific to a particular healthcare provider. There are also general sites looking at the wider issues around obesity. They are Apps, Facebook groups, open and closed for a. The list goes on and on. Studies show online forums can be a useful source of informatio