Behavioral Health & Bariatric Surgery

All surgical weight loss candidates are required by our program to partake in a psychosocial evaluation prior to surgical approval. This weight loss surgery eligibility guideline helps ensure that gastric sleeve surgery is truly the best way to lose weight, given both your mental and physical circumstances. 

Our licensed mental health clinicians serve important roles throughout the entire span of the bariatric sleeve surgery process. By combining bariatric surgery and mental health support, the chances for effective and long-lasting weight loss are dramatically increased. Our behavioral therapists are there to ensure the best outcomes for each bariatric patient before and after surgery for weight loss.

Presurgical Psychosocial Evaluation

Psychosocial factors can affect the long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery from both a mental and physical standpoint. This includes emotional adjustment, following surgical recommendations, and overall weight loss outcomes. The purpose of the presurgical psychosocial evaluation is to identify factors that may pose challenges to patients achieving optimal surgical outcomes.

The psychosocial evaluation provides an opportunity for each patient to establish a relationship with their evaluator: who serves as an ongoing resource and plays an integral part in postoperative care.

Appointments are scheduled in sixty-minute increments. A licensed mental health clinician will collect information about a variety of topics including: weight history, psychosocial history, and health-related behaviors. As a result of the evaluation, the evaluator will provide recommendations to the bariatric team on a patient’s readiness for surgery from a mental health standpoint.

Therapy Before And/Or After Weight Loss Surgery

Psychotherapy may be recommended before or after surgery by our weight loss team and can be requested by the patient at any point in the surgical weight loss process. Our licensed mental health clinician will work closely with the bariatric surgeon and weight loss team to create and implement a unique weight loss program specially tailored to each patient. 

Common areas covered in therapy for weight loss include:

• Preparing for bariatric surgery 
• Resolving emotional barriers to weight loss and weight management
• Establishing healthy eating habits 
• Increasing motivation to make lifestyle changes that help patients keep weight off and live healthy lives
• Developing strategies to increase accountability
• Overcoming challenges to exercise and helping you develop the right exercise plan 
• Adjusting to changes after gastric sleeve surgery
• Fostering long-term change with combinations of behavioral therapy, weight loss support groups, and other medical weight management tools

Get The Support You Need To Reach Your Weight Loss Goals

As a premier Iowa weight loss clinic, Iowa Weight Loss Specialists has a long track record of success through our combination of weight loss counseling and surgery for losing weight. We also offer medical weight loss therapy and behavioral health services as a part of our comprehensive weight loss services.

From finding the right weight loss plan for you to the day of your surgery to ongoing support, Iowa Weight Loss Specialists is here to help you lead a healthier life, both physically and mentally!

Take The First Step Towards A Healthier New You

Register for Our Free Weight Loss Surgery Class