These are my diary notes from using a Tier 3 Weight loss Service that I inadvertently found myself on, after years of research I took the plunge and asked the GP for a gastric surgery review (I do have a strong reason). However I was advised that I’d need to undertake a Tier 3 Weight Loss Service with Why Weight (The Bariatric Consultancy Ltd) for originally one year…but now I’m told it’s two…so here I am, after feeling initially frustrated – throwing myself into this in the hope of actually shedding some weight and (hopefully) avoiding surgery!
So the Tier 3 Weight Loss thing works in a three pronged way. Nutritionist, Counselling and also an exercise person is offered.
Here I’m addressing my thoughts on counselling so far.
Initially I was really shocked, I was offered this plan instead of the surgery I’d agonised over for years, researched like nothing else, I knew it was never a magic wand, in fact even harder. I’ve tried everything, I mean everything. So it took a while to come to terms with throwing myself into this plan.
Unlike the appointment schedulers and my first nuticialist, the Councillor was lovely. Really easy to talk to and gave me space to talk. However we’re not really into the crux of the work yet so this could change, but it shows great promise.
This is mainly what the service is about, they feel that much obesity is routed in physiological needs…
Why Weight state: “There is a growing body of literature demonstrating that morbid obesity is associated with high levels of poor mental health and disturbed eating behaviour. For many reasons adults who have experienced crisis and disorder in childhood often lack the ability to self-regulate their emotions as adults. They will often look to external sources such as food, alcohol and drugs as a means to managing their emotions. The relationship most adults have to food is based on their childhood experiences from their psycho-social situation at the time.” [Accessed 01/09/2019] http://www.bariatricconsultancytier3.com/tier3background.html
I don’t feel the above applies to me at all, but hey, I’ve tried everything else…..one last attempt will not hurt. So here I am throwing myself into it all.
Aside from the actual service being offered there is something massively bugging me about all of this. I’ve worked incredibly hard for years helping other parents and Families access mental health services for their children. Particularly those with disabilities and additional needs. It is no secret that CAMHS (Child and Adult Mental Health Services) is utterly on it’s knees. I know people who have been turned away with children who have tried to take their own lives. I know people with children who are incredibly unwell, in desperate need of support or diagnosis, turned away….so having this service laid in front of me (that I hadn’t requested) seems, well. Wrong.
Really wrong.
The NHS are giving an insane amount of money to Why Weight, is that right given how needed it is elsewhere? I don’t believe it is, I think scandalous is appropriate here.
So here I am, sitting on this plan. In part I want to leave – but I know the funding has already happened for me. The best thing I can do is be brutally honest about what they are offering, write down my thoughts and if it works – wonderful. If it doesn’t, it will perhaps expose something that really needs to be talked about. I guess that’s why I’m openly writing about my experiences here.
I’m not blaming the therapist, I mean they are lovely! I did accidentally find job adverts for their roles in my research. They really are being offered peanuts. I guess I got lucky to find someone of high quality and caring caliber given what they are paying.
House of Berries 