Benefits of Ongoing Support

Support – both before and after weight-loss surgery – is vital to the success of weight-loss surgery.

The Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program hosts monthly pre- and post-surgical support sessions for its patients. During these meetings, patients share their experiences with one another and receive support from the Penn bariatric community.

“Having bariatric surgery leads to much more than a physical transformation, it’s a complete lifestyle transformation for an individual who may have spent his or her life identifying with being obese,” says Jim Henry, RD, LDN, registered dietitian with the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program. “That change can be very stressful and overwhelming. For someone who has used food as a coping mechanism to deal with stress, it can lead to a lot of negative feelings and disordered eating.”

Penn clinicians understand the unique needs to bariatric surgery patients. That’s why Penn offers its bariatric surgery patients support before and after weight-loss surgery.

“Research has found that the more support people have throughout the process, the more likely they will be to succeed,” says Henry. “More support leads to better outcomes. It’s because of support programs like those we have at Penn that our patients are so successful.”

Learn more about the support services available through the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program's Patient Support Network.

Get more information about weight loss surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you and attend a free information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

At this free session, you will learn more about weight loss surgery at Penn, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.


Register for this free event here.