Regain, now known as weight recurrence in the medical community, is something most bariatric patients worry about. In today's episode, we deeply dive with obesity doctor and researcher Dr. Robert Kushner, to understand why patients regain weight after bariatric surgery. We want you to leave this episode with an understanding of why weight recurrence happens, why it is not something to be ashamed of, and some steps you can take to reverse any regain you might experience. 

Weight recurrence happens for many reasons, and most are out of a patient’s control. Our body has a weight set point, and as soon as we start to lose weight rapidly, our bodies are triggered to hold on to or return us to our previous high weight. Our weight is also impacted by the medications we take, our life stage, and our biology. Behavioral actions and changes affect our weight as well. If we notice that we are struggling with emotional or binge eating or that our life has been more stressful than in the past and are not taking action to mitigate these behaviors, we could experience weight reoccurrence.

With so many factors contributing to weight recurrence, it is essential to know that, as a patient, it is not your fault or something to be ashamed of. Regain is a part of the bariatric journey and indicates that our disease is once again active in our lives. It just means that it is time to onboard more treatments to help you manage your chronic and lifelong disease of obesity. If you are struggling with regain, we hope you leave this conversation with fresh hope and a pathway forward. 

Remember, you're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! 

About our Guest: Dr. Kushner is a Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL An obesity researcher, educator, and clinician for the past 40 years. He is a published researcher, author, and esteemed medical professional passionate about serving his patients.

About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!