Living with Bariatric Surgery Managing your mind and your weight

Highly Commended at the 2019 BMA Medical Book Awards

Living with Bariatric Surgery: Managing Your Mind and Your Weight aims to help those who are considering bariatric surgery develop a psychological understanding of their eating behaviour and the changes needed in order to make surgery successful. It is also a resource for those who have undergone surgery to help them adapt to the physical, psychological and relationship adjustments that occur.

Whilst the benefits of bariatric surgery are significant, the psychological challenges it presents for patients have been overlooked. This book will help patients develop a realistic view of bariatric surgery and the changes required. It incorporates the real-life experiences of people who have had bariatric surgery, showing how they have responded to the psychological and behavioural changes after surgery, and also features helpful psychoeducation, exercises and strategies to facilitate reflection and learning.

Living with Bariatric Surgery will be an essential guide for anyone considering, preparing for or recovering from bariatric surgery, as well as health professionals working with these clients.

Table of contents

Introduction

Part 1: Getting ready for bariatric surgery

Chapter 1 Developing a balanced and realistic view of bariatric surgery.

Chapter 2 Creating new habits and making changes in preparation for bariatric surgery.

Chapter 3 Understanding and managing your emotional relationship with food.

Chapter 4 Final steps before surgery.

Part 2: Life after bariatric surgery

Chapter 5 Life on the other side: adjusting to early life changes after bariatric surgery.

Chapter 6 Negotiating weight changes after bariatric surgery: the honeymoon period and beyond.

Chapter 7 Negotiating your new relationship with food and managing pitfalls.

Chapter 8 Improving psychological wellbeing and managing psychological pitfalls after surgery

Chapter 9 Physical activity

Chapter 10 Body image and body confidence

Chapter 11 Changes in relationships

Chapter 12 Unmet weight loss expectations and weight regain after bariatric surgery

Denise Ratcliffe is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked in bariatric surgery for the past 10 years. She is the psychology lead for bariatric surgery at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Phoenix Health, UK. She is also Head of Clinical Health Psychology at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.