Previous research into support for bariatric patients shows that patients clearly want more support. In a recent survey on bariatric weight regain, conducted by Stanford University in conjunction with BSCI, 73% believed that poor support was a factor in their regain and 90% reported the need for a 'special' bariatric support program to maintain weight loss.

In relation to The Fresh Start Program, we've found even greater desire for access to a long-term, comprehensive support program. In 2015, one of our Clinic Partners carried out an independent review of the program and 97.6% of patients wanted to keep the program as part of their surgical package and would recommend the program to others.

The Fresh Start Program focuses on the mindset of creating lifestyle change because what we've found on our program is that although the strategy of what to eat and how to exercise is clearly important -  if patients are struggling, then the real problem is not a lack of knowledge about what they should be doing: the true obstacle is their mindset and they must get much more help with this to accompany their surgery.

• Dr David Martin, Martin Obesity Surgery, Strathfield (since 2010)
• Dr Ian Martin, Martin Obesity Surgery, Auchenflower (since 2012)
• Dr Andrew Russell, Rockhampton (since 2014)
• Dr Peter Bovey, Townsville (since 2016, now retired)
• Dr Nicholas Williams, Riverina Bariatrics, Wagga Wagga (since 2017)
• Dr Richard Harrison, Riverina Bariatrics, Wagga Wagga (since 2017)
• Dr Craig Taylor, OClinic, Wollstonecraft (since 2018)
• Dr John Jorgensen, St George Private Hospital (since 2018)
• Dr Philip Le Page, Concorde (since 2019)
• Dr David Links, Randwick (since 2020)
• Associate Professor Michael Talbot and Upper GI Surgery, Kogarah (since 2021)
• Dr David Lewis, Tamworth Weight Loss Surgery, Tamworth (since 2021)
• Dr Mark Magdy, Kogarah (since 2022)
• Dr Jason Wong and Brisbane General & Obesity Surgery, Redcliffe (since 2022)
•  Dr Evan Willingham and Toowoomba Bariatric Surgery, Toowoomba (since 2023)
• Dr Christian Connors, Mackay (since 2023)

Coaching is an especially powerful methodology when it comes to stimulating individual behavioural change because it is focused on helping patients to grow into becoming experts in their own well-being.  Coaching assists patients to discover their strengths, to clarify their values, to increase their awareness, to set their priorities, to meet their challenges, to brainstorm possibilities and to design positive actions. This engagement enables patients to generate a new self-concept, to create new supports and environments and to take new actions. By empowering patients to find their own answers, through asking non-judgmental and provocative questions and offering powerful reflections, coaching becomes a catalyst for lasting change. 

Research has also shown that patients who have access to support networks are more successful with their weightloss and mental adjustment, especially on a long-term basis, than those who do not have access. So much so for example that the Centre of Excellence Award developed in 2005 by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) requires that all qualifying programs to provide long-term post-surgical support.

In an increasingly competitive field, partnering with The Fresh Start Program will ensure that you lead the way in offering the most comprehensive level of ongoing post-surgical lifestyle support.