|
|
By Ajay Goyal, MD, FACS, New Jersey Bariatric Center
Bariatric surgery – gastric bypass, Lap Band and REALIZE
Band procedures - is recognized by the National Institute of
Health as a safe and effective way for morbidly obese patients
to lose weight. But surgery is only a tool, it’s still
up to the patients to adhere to healthy diet and exercise program. With
the food the center of many family activities, the New Jersey
Bariatric Center finds that patients with strong family support
and encouragement can increase weight loss success. Family
support keeps patients on track as well as losing and maintaining
their weight throughout their life.
“From the simplest everyday family dinner to the large family holiday celebrations,
food and family are closely linked,” says Dr. Ajay Goyal, surgeon, New
Jersey Bariatric Center. “While the ultimate success of weight loss
surgery lies with the patients and their adherence to a healthy diet and exercise
program, with family present during the majority of times when patients interact
with food, their support and encouragement plays a significant role in a patient’s
weight loss success.”
New Jersey Bariatric Center patient Dawn Rodriguez credits her husband and daughter’s
support to her weight loss success. Rodriguez says while it wasn’t
always easy on her family, “we had a lot of issues come up, even just sitting
down to eat as a family became an issue because of what and how I had to eat
compared with what and how they ate,” no matter what the issues were or
how difficult it was at any given moment, her family never failed to support
and be happy for her. “Even though losing weight is my accomplishment,
if it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would have gotten as far as
I have or had the success that I’ve achieved.”
Five Tips for Family Members
Dr. Goyal offers five tips to friends and family members so they
can help bariatric surgery patients achieve their goal weight
loss after gastric bypass, Lap Band and REALIZE Band surgery.
- Learn About the Surgical Procedure: Just
as patients research and learn about what changes their bodies
will undergo, it’s important for family members to do
the same. Understanding the journey your family member
is about to take will help you guide, coach and offer support
throughout the process.
- Respect Patients New Eating Habits: Your
family member’s eating habits are going to change drastically
immediately after weight loss surgery. Be respectful
of their weight loss goal, don’t bring “treats” to
the hospital after surgery, don’t encourage them to finish
their plate when their full and try to refrain from tempting
them with food - “a little bite won’t hurt you” -
or inadvertently sabotaging their efforts, i.e. giving them
a box of chocolates as a gift.
- Don’t Blame the Patient: Over
and over again patients remark that many of the toughest times
during weight loss is when the family sits together at the
dinner table. In many cases, the person who’s in
charge of feeding the family is the patient and the family
overall sees a difference in the type of food now served that
can be frustrating for family members. Fried chicken
becomes grilled chicken, an ice cream treat is not a fruit
treat. These little changes can cause bickering, squabbling
and even heated debates at the dinner table. Try to stay
away from responses such as “You chose this not me” or ‘Don’t
punish me for your decisions,” stay calm, count to 10
before you respond, and find a solution that works for both
parties.
- Prepare for the Dynamics of the Relationship to Change: Was
this your friend who you always went out for ice cream sundaes
with when times got tough? Was your family member always
a little shy due to her/his weight causing them to shrink from
attention? As the weight comes off, prepare for the dynamics
of the relationship to change. Instead of bonding over
food or taking your joint frustrations out with food, find
a new activity to enjoy together that doesn’t involve
food – join a gym, take a class or start a book club. And
understand your family member is still the person you’ve
always known and loved, they’re not changing on you – you’re
seeing a new confident side of them that’s always been
there but that they were uncomfortable expressing when they
were carrying the extra weight.
- Compliment Success, Offer Encouragement During Setbacks: And
finally, don’t forget to compliment your family member
on the successes they’ve achieved, and offer encouragement
during the more challenging times.
|
|
