Lap-Band Surgery Might Bring Out the Worst in Friends and Family

By: S.B. Pathak Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Sabotage! The world brings to mind the grainy flicker of an old war movie, the kind where a small group of determined freedom fighters travel from place to place cutting telephone wires and blowing up chateaux full of partying Nazis.

But while the odds of meeting a real-life World War II saboteur grow smaller every year, those who are seeking to start a new life after having Lap-Band® surgery are almost guaranteed to meet another kind of saboteur: the obesity-recovery saboteur. An obesity patient without the strength of a dedicated Lap-Band support group can suddenly find a “saboteur” has blown a hole in his or her best-laid plans for recovery.

David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center and author of The Way to Eat, defines “sabotage” as things that people might say or do to throw a patient off the course of recovery from obesity and weight loss surgery.

Dr. Katz lists several types of weight loss surgery saboteurs:
The threatened. With some two-thirds of Americans being overweight or obese, it’s highly likely that a Lap-Band patient has a family member, friend, or other close acquaintance who feels threatened and defensive as a result of the patient’s post-operative weight loss. Often, these people will try to spoil a bariatric patient’s success in an attempt to feel better about themselves.
The controlling. A patient may have a spouse with the need to feel “in control”. Such saboteurs may say or do things to sidetrack the patient’s recovery as a way of staying in charge or running the show.

The anxious. Sexual anxiety on the part of a spouse can be a powerful driver of sabotage. If partners begin to feel that their mates are suddenly becoming unusually attractive to others outside of the marriage, they may attempt to derail the weight loss so they can return to their comfort zone.

The competitive. Another person’s success can trigger feelings of resentment in people who are highly competitive. The sight of a co-worker, sister, or best friend suddenly losing weight can motivate such people to try and trip up the recovering weight loss surgery patient.

The self-saboteur. Recovering from obesity means beginning a new life – a prospect that some patients find intensely frightening. Other patients, especially women, may have self-esteem issues, and may even feel that they don’t deserve to be of normal weight. In both cases, conscious or unconscious self-sabotage can result.

How to stop these saboteurs? Most weight loss surgeons agree that a program of comprehensive support is vital for helping post-operative weight loss surgery patients to re-integrate their lives after their surgery is complete.

Most bariatric surgeons will offer Lap-Band support to their patients, enabling those who have had Lap-Band surgery to recognize and counter the acts of the saboteurs in their lives.

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About The Author: Lap-Band support is critical to staying on track to better health after weight loss surgery, despite the best efforts of saboteurs. For those who do not have a Lap-Band support group in their area, online forums and support materials offered on DVD can provide much-needed encouragement and insight.