Psychological assessment in preparation for bariatric surgery is a specialised evaluation performed by a psychologist or psychiatrist, as part of the thorough assessment recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for individuals considering weight loss surgery.

The primary goal of psychological assessment prior to bariatric surgery is to evaluate your current mental health and emotional well-being. This might include: current mental health concerns/diagnoses, body and weight, eating patterns, substance use, past trauma, and the motivation and ability to make and maintain long term healthy lifestyle changes. We aim to identify any underlying psychological factors that may have contributed to your weight struggles, which could potentially impact your long term weight loss maintenance and overall wellbeing.

Your psychologist will schedule a clinical interview as well as administer standardised psychological tests to evaluate your current mental health and psychological functioning (particularly relating to bariatric surgery). They may also discuss:

·         your motivation for seeking weight loss surgery

·         your history with dieting and weight loss/regain

·         your expectations of and understanding about the surgery

·         the lifestyle changes required for long-term maintenance of weight loss.

Based on the outcome of the assessment, your psychologist may recommend psychological treatment to assist you:

• to meet your health and weight loss goals

• to treat any existing mental health concerns

• to help you prepare for weight loss surgery and assist you to manage the associated emotional and lifestyle changes

Your psychologist will work with you and your bariatric healthcare team to ensure that you proceed to surgery feeling psychologically informed, emotionally prepared and fully confident in your decision to proceed.

Bariatric surgery is both a physical and emotional journey.  Your surgeon wants you to have the best possible health and weight loss outcomes.  The ideal way to be prepare for your surgery is to be both at your physical and emotional best.