PART 1

Addressing Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery

Weight regain after bariatric surgery is a concern that many women face. While the surgery itself is a powerful tool for weight loss, maintaining results can feel challenging, especially as old habits begin to creep back in. Regaining weight can feel disappointing, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, and it’s a common experience.

As a bariatric dietitian and emotional eating coach, I specialise in helping women after weight loss surgery regain control and avoid the pitfalls that lead to weight regain. In this blog, we’ll discuss the factors behind weight regain, strategies for getting back on track, and how long-term support can help you create food freedom and achieve sustainable results.

Why Weight Regain Happens After Bariatric Surgery

Nutritional Habits That Lead to Regain

One of the main reasons for weight regain is the gradual return of old eating habits. Bariatric surgery limits how much you can eat initially, but over time, portions may increase if mindful eating habits aren’t maintained. Common nutritional pitfalls include:

• Portion Control: Gradually increasing portions can lead to a feeling that you may have stretched your stomach pouch. In my experience, the women that I have worked with are no longer working with their tool and feel very overwhelmed because they think the surgery is broken or they don’t know where to start.

• Not following the Post Surgery Guidelines: Eating soft/sloppy meals and snacks can lead to eating more and the fullness sensation will not last for 3-4 hrs, which means you're likely to want to snack between meals. Eating solid food takes effort, and overtime the old habit of eating quickly slips in or you find ways to cheat!

• High-Calorie Choices: Leaning on high-calorie foods or “slider foods” that pass through the stomach quickly (like crisp, milkshakes, ice-cream, sweets, and ice cream) can lead to unintentional weight gain.

• Protein Deficiency: Protein is essential after bariatric surgery. Without enough protein, it’s harder to stay full, leading to overeating or snacking between meals.

Emotional and Psychological Factors

Bariatric surgery changes the stomach but doesn’t necessarily address the relationship with food. Emotional eating and the old “dieting mindset” is a common factor that can drive weight regain post-surgery. Stress, boredom, loneliness, and other emotional triggers may lead to eating as a form of coping, which can feel difficult to manage alone.

Lack of Support

For many women, the follow-up support they receive after surgery is limited. Some providers offer very little support or none, others offer brief check-ins or short consultations every 3-6 months, which may not be enough to fully address the complexities of life after surgery. Without regular guidance, it’s easy to feel lost or discouraged, increasing the risk of weight regain.

Why Support Is Essential for Lasting Weight Loss

The Importance of Long-Term, Tailored Support

Having consistent, personalised support can make all the difference in maintaining your weight loss. When you have access to a support system, you’re less likely to fall back into old patterns and more likely to stay on track with your health goals.

Unlike short, sporadic follow-ups, long-term support provides:

• Guidance on Emotional Eating: Learn to identify emotional triggers and build strategies to cope without using food.

• Accountability and Encouragement: Regular check-ins help you stay motivated and celebrate your progress, even through challenges.

• Customised Nutrition and Lifestyle Advice: As your needs change, having a tailored approach to food, habits and lifestyle can prevent setbacks.

Most women I work with know exactly what they should be eating but struggle to get organised with their food because they think they need to eat perfectly. I help them create balance, so they can eat the foods they love (intentionally) and lose weight. It’s not about being perfect it’s about being a REALIST!

IN PART 2 - I offer my tIps on  "How To Get Back On Track After The Festive Season"