Chapter | Objectives | Description and lifestyle changes |
---|---|---|
General information: obesity and bariatric surgery Note: Provided in the open area of the homepage. All study participants will have access to this chapter after registering. | To educate about obesity and bariatric surgery as a long-term intervention treatment. | Different procedures and their post-surgery implications; Obesity, psychosocial impairments and maintenance mechanisms; The role of bariatric surgery as a weight loss treatment for obesity. |
Motivation for intervention and importance of monitoring weight | To highlight individual responsibility and the need for long-term lifestyle modifications; To educate about self-monitoring and regular self-weighing. | How to use the program; The top ten recommendations of your bariatric surgeon; How weight varies after surgery and in the long term; Why and how to control your weight. |
Healthy eating behavior | To promote adequate eating behaviors; To educate about strategies to maintain a regular eating plan; To educate about the importance of the different nutrients and how to include them in a daily eating plan. | Nutritional changes and deficits after bariatric surgery; Rules for a healthy eating patter after bariatric surgery; Nutritional pyramid for post-bariatric patients; Signs of problems with your eating behaviors; Getting to know the different nutrients; How to read food labels; |
Stress management and problem solving | To learn problem-solving strategies; To identify problematic situations; To anticipate and provide training on adequate coping strategies. | Different types of stress; Symptoms of stress after bariatric surgery; Steps in problem solving; Identify and deal with problematic situations; Stress management techniques; |
Physical activity and physical exercise | To promote an active lifestyle; To educate about the importance of physical activity after surgery and to identify strategies to increase physical activity. | Benefits and myths of an active lifestyle after bariatric surgery; How to begin and increase physical activity; Use a pedometer and enhance your motivation; Sedentary versus active attitudes; Structured physical exercise: what is it and what is it not? Identifying and managing barriers for regular physical activity. |
Goals and expectations | To adapt outcome expectations in different areas of life and throughout the weight loss process; To identify the individual meaning of success and failure. | Unrealistic expectation regarding bariatric surgery; Facts about weight loss after bariatric surgery; Expected weight loss after surgery; Identify non-weight related success outcomes after surgery; Establish ‘SMART’ goals and rewards. |
Emotions, thoughts and eating | To understand the relationship between emotions and eating; To cope with anxiety and mood changes after surgery. | Change your thoughts to change your behavior; Think about your thinking – cognitive bias; Consequences and characteristics of emotional eating; Guidelines to deal with emotional situations; Physical hunger vs emotional hunger; Guidelines for challenging situations. |
Self-concept and self-esteem | To understand the main aspects of incorporating a developing self-worth system; To identify low self-esteem negative thoughts. | Identify self-strengths, weaknesses, achievements and talents; Challenging low self-esteem negative thoughts. |
Body image | To address common body image problems related to weight changes or extra hanging skin; To inform about aesthetic surgery; To educate about body checking and ‘feeling fat’. | Body image and (un)realistic expectations after bariatric surgery; Excessive skin and plastic surgery; Work on non-weight related positive qualities; Accepting less positive body aspects; Biased assumptions about the importance of body image; Body checking and ‘feeling fat’. |
Eating behavior problems | To identifying persistent eating problems; To identify and cope with triggers for problematic eating behaviors (e.g., emotional eating, binge eating, loss of control, grazing, dumping or plugging). | Persistent eating problems: binge eating and loss of control; excessive eating; grazing; night eating; restriction; sneak eating; chewing and spitting; food choices and restaurant choices; Gastrointestinal problems: vomiting; dumping syndrome and plugging; Reducing calories changing the way you eat; Monitoring eating behaviors and identifying trigger for problematic eating. |
Relationships and interpersonal difficulties | To cope with new emerging problems; To provide training on assertiveness and interpersonal skills. | Challenges experienced with social interactions; Make social cues work for you; Techniques to express yourself assertively. |
Social support and significant others | To promote an adequate social support system; To identify helpers or those who might create challenging situations. | Communicating with significant others; Pregnancy and contraception; Changes experienced by your significant other; Assessing your current social support: Defining how others can help you. |
Relapse prevention | To explain the difference between a misstep and a relapse; To alert for common problems associated with weight regain in the long term; To identify risk behaviors and coping strategies. | How to keep motivated; Anticipate problematic situations; Relapse versus lapse; Create a relapse-prevention plan. |