Eating Disorders and Bariatric Surgery Eating Recovery Academy Podcast

Show Notes
What is Bariatric Surgery? What is Bariatric Counseling?
Is there a link between Bariatric Surgery and eating disorders? 
In this podcast episode, Kate Fisch speaks with Sharon Ryan about Bariatric Surgery. She discusses the challenges that patients face when preparing for, or after undergoing, Bariatric Surgery.
 
MEET SHARON RYAN
Sharon Lynn Ryan, MEd, AABC, LAC,  is a licensed associate counselor, therapist, speaker, and writer.  Sharon earned her masters degree in professional counseling (MEd) from William Paterson University, board certification as a bariatric counselor/educator from the American Association of Bariatric Counselors, certificates in personal training and nutrition from the National Personal Training Institute, and is clinically trained in EMDR, DBT, and CBT.
Sharon specializes in eating and weight disorders, bariatrics, health and wellness, and is a firm believer in Health At Every Size (HAES)  intuitive eating, and body positivity.
Visit Sharon Lyn Ryan to find out more.
  IN THIS PODCAST What is a Bariatric Counsellor?
What are the common feelings for patients, post bariatric surgery?.
Is there a link between bariatric surgery and eating disorders?
Post Surgical Eating Avoidance Disorder.
 
What does it mean to be a board certified Bariatric Counselor?  
“There's an association called the American Association of Bariatric Counselors. You get board certified as a counselor so that you can work specifically with Bariatric patients. They require all the CEUs that you would get as a counselor or a therapist every two years you're reassessed and do your CEUs but it gives you specific training to work with people who are struggling with weight and maybe attempting to have bariatric surgery  ”
Sharon Ryan
 
When we speak about patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, it is easy to assume that all the patients are happy with their results. This is not always the case and there are individuals who are frustrated that they don't look the way that they want to look or that it didn't go as promised.
 
“The American Association of Bariatric Counselors also covers the complications that come along with it and the problems that may come before and after, and how to address them so they cover not only the nutrition part of it, but the psychological part of it. Which is something that's really been overlooked, I feel like. in the field.”
Sharon Ryan
 
Why should patients go for counseling before having bariatric surgery?  
“I think there needs to be actual counseling and therapy for people prior to the surgery, because the people who are going for Bariatric surgery have, at the very least, disordered eating .”
Sharon Ryan
 
Is there a possible link between eating disorders and getting bariatric surgery?  
“From 2011 to 2019 there were about 2 000 000 bariatric surgeries performed in the United States. A study found out that 66% of them had a lifetime history of some sort of eating disorder and 48% of them at the time of them being approved for surgery had criteria for binge eating disorder.”
Sharon Ryan
 
It makes us wonder how many of those that are willing to have the surgery actually knew they had an eating disorder. 
 
 How do you prepare patients for Bariatric Surgery?  
“They need to be educated prior to their surgery. They need to go through therapy prior to their surgery. They need to be with a Dietician prior to their surgery. Not just once. And figure out why they're eating the way they're eating, why they're at that weight.”
Sharon Ryan
 
It becomes important, when encountered with a client considering this surgery, to take the time to understand why they are considering the surgery, why they feel they need the surgery and build that relationship with the client.
 
“ The first rule to me of being a therapist is to be non-judgmental. So, if someone walked in and said I'm thinking of Bariatric surger