Since early 2007, Chris has worked alongside colleagues at Adelaide Obesity Surgery (previously ‘Adelaide Obesity Surgery’). These practitioners include – Dr Justin Bessell and Dr Jon Shenfine (Surgeons); Justine Hawke and Sally Johnston (Dietitians); Dr Helen Patroney, Dr Teresa Girolamo and Dr Zanna Murfitt (GPs), and Sara Slayman (Exercise Physiologist).
In this role, Chris has assisted motivated people to implement new behaviours and thinking, maximising the likelihood of improved health and its maintenance. Chris enjoys the role at AOS as he sees not only sustained weight loss, but most importantly people who are healthier generally – happier, more confident, and enjoying better relationships with those around them as a result of this improved health.
Sessions are practical, rather than ‘assessment’ in nature. Some of the topics that can be covered include –
- ‘Not dieting’ anymore – moving towards sustainable, gentler, and more comfortable behaviours
- Making the most of motivation
- Strategies to help reduce eating when bored, tired, other reasons (‘non-hungry eating’)
- Understanding emotional and comfort eating
- An easier relationship with movement and physical activity
- Understanding the role of bariatric surgery – how it can help, and how to talk about it to family/friends
- Enhancing confidence
- Managing set-backs, and assisting to ‘get back on track’
- Lifestyle and environmental factors that impact on health
- Your family – how the people around us effect our health
- Expectations – and those of others around you
- Assisting with other health issues e.g. smoking; alcohol
- Relationship issues
- Work/life balance
- Communication skills – for example being more assertive
- Relaxation and healthy coping strategies.