Just Like in Car Racing, Bariatric Patients Need a Pit Crew

05/13/2009

CARMEL, Ind. – In motorsports, drivers schedule a series of pit stops during a race for refueling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments or any other needs. Up to 20 individuals can be members of a pit crew, and these individuals are essential to a driver’s continued success.

Pit stops are part of an overall strategy for the racing team that allows the cars to carry less fuel - making them lighter and faster - and allows for the use of softer tires that wear faster but provide better grip on the track. Without these constant check-ups, the multi-million dollar cars would not function properly and victory would be impossible.

The pit stop/pit crew metaphor can also be applied to bariatric surgery patients who need to have an active support system in place to ensure that the initial weight loss they experience is sustainable throughout a lifetime.

During the month of May, Clarian Bariatrics is encouraging all current and former weight loss surgery patients to determine who is in their pit crew, connect with other post-surgical patients via a support group or visit their surgeon for a “pit stop” to make certain everything is still on track.

Individuals are welcomed to visit the Clarian Bariatrics Blog (blog.clarian.org) to download a pit crew card with information on how to identify support persons and a guide on how to ensure success after a weight loss procedure. 

“The support of family, friends and medical professionals is crucial to the success of patients,” Samer Mattar, MD, FACS, Medical Director for Clarian Bariatrics, said. “It is important that these individuals understand that morbid obesity is a disease and they can be part of the treatment through positive thinking before and after the procedure.”

The comparisons between car racing and bariatric surgery are plenty. Think of the patient as a car in disrepair. A surgeon – or mechanic – can come in and fix the inside to improve function, but without dieticians – or fuel specialists - to provide proper education the work would be for naught.  Additionally, exercise consultants and psychologists need to be available to help the patient adjust to a new life and habits, just as the tire changer rotates wheels for optimal performance.

Similar to race car drivers, patients are members of a team, which includes other post-surgical patients. It is essential that individuals regularly participate in team building exercises, like support groups and cooking classes, as a way to share struggles and success stories. They can also rely on their friends and family as their cheering section.

Mattar suggests that patients should attend at least four support group sessions each year post surgery, meet with a family physician regularly and visit with his or her weight loss surgeon at least once a year depending on how long the person has been post-operative.

“Just as if a patient owned a race car, they should regularly visit with ‘mechanics,’ undergo maintenance checks and get tune-ups if needed,” he said. “This way, potential problems are diagnosed early and any difficulties that a patient may have, whether medical, mental, social, financial, domestic or spiritual, can be addressed.”

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About Clarian Bariatrics - Offering a comprehensive and unique program that goes beyond the initial weight loss that patients experience, Clarian Bariatrics uses cooking classes that promote healthy meal preparation and puts significant focus on patient education and long-term follow up. Clarian Bariatrics works with each patient individually while also providing comprehensive physiologic, mental and nutritional evaluation and support. The program has been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. The ASMBS Center of Excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery. To learn more about Clarian Bariatrics, please visit www.ACallToChange.org.