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 information and emotional support in obesity and bariatric surgery. (2,3) But these resources are also subject to the vagaries of any other online world with examples of bullying and trolling. Other resources are being developed to deal with exactly that problem.

In our next #obsmuk chat, we want to look at how patients and health care
practitioners learn from patients and carers about their online support
experiences. How can online support groups complement the care of patients with
obesity, those considering bariatric surgery, and post-op patients? We want to
hear what’s useful for patients and healthcare providers.

The questions we wish to discuss (with thanks to our sister organisation #obsm for prompts)

1) How useful do you find online support for patients with #obesity and those considering #bariatricsurgery?

2) What are the problems and challenges of online support in #obesity and #BariatricSurgery?

3) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the different online platforms for people with #obesity and pre- and post- #bariatricsurgery support?

4) Should Healthcare providers recommend online support to their patients? If so, which platforms are most useful?

5) How do you think online support for those with #obesity and those undergoing #bariatricsurgery will change in the future? Jacqueline Joyce




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