Inside Bariatrics

In Part 1 of this conversation with Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Lynne Johnston, we explore the psychological side of bariatric care and the factors that often sit underneath eating, body image, and weight-related struggles.In this episode, we discuss:The role of psychology in bariatric assessment and supportWhy bariatric psychology is not simply a “gatekeeping” processRelationship with food, coping, and emotional eatingFood as a coping strategy or “crutch”Guest: Dr Lynne Johnston is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in the NHS and in private practice, specialising in health psychology, bariatric care, obesity, and supporting people before and after life-changing surgery. If you have any enquiries or wish to contact Lynne, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the links below - www.halleyjohnstonassociates.co.uk [email protected] Connect / Learn more:Follow Aoife McMahon on Instagram: @thatirishdietitianWork with me UK/Ireland: centreforliberatingnutrition.com

In this Lived Experience episode, Danni gives a wonderfully nuanced account of her story regarding weight, GLP-1 medications, bariatric surgery, fertility, and what all of that can actually look like when you’re living through it, rather than reading about it.Danni shares her experience of using GLP-1 medications before bariatric surgery, going through surgery itself, and then returning to GLP-1s again afterwards in the context of fertility care. Along the way, we talk about hunger, food noise, binge eating, body image, and the parts of this journey that don’t tend to get simplified into a neat 'did it work or didn’t it' answer.Because it’s rarely that simple.If you’re curious about these interventions — or you’ve had your own experience with them, I think there’s something really valuable in hearing this one in full.We talk about:Living with PCOS and fertility challengesGLP-1 medications (before, during, and after bariatric surgery)Hunger, food noise, and appetite changesBinge eating and relationship with foodBariatric surgery and expectations vs realityWeight loss, weight regain, and what sits in betweenFertility treatment and BMI thresholdsBody image and the weight of other people’s commentsMaking sense of health decisions in real life, not theory

In this clinician-focused episode of Inside Bariatrics, Aoife is joined by Rhian Houghton, Registered Dietitian, to explore the often-overlooked intersection between bariatric care, eating disorders, disordered eating, and GLP-1 medications.Together, they discuss how relationship with food can become more complex before and after bariatric surgery, why eating disorders can go under-recognised in bariatric settings, and the importance of trauma-informed, collaborative, and permission-based approaches to care.This episode may be particularly relevant for bariatric clinicians, dietitians, psychologists, and healthcare professionals working across weight management, obesity, GLP-1, and eating disorder services - though anyone interested in these topics is welcome to listen.In this episode, we discuss:The overlap between bariatric surgery, disordered eating, and eating disordersWhy binge eating and loss of control eating can persist, change, or re-emerge after surgeryRestriction, emotional eating, and relationship with food before and after bariatric surgeryHow eating disorders can go unnoticed in bariatric and weight management settingsUsing motivational interviewing and permission-based conversations in practiceTrauma-informed care in dietetic and bariatric settingsChallenges referring between bariatric and eating disorder servicesThe growing intersection between GLP-1 medications and eating behaviour supportWhy clinician supervision matters in complex nutrition and behaviour change workResources mentionedIntuitive Eating — Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse ReschMotivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness — Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness by Dawn Clifford and Laura CurtisEating disorder training by Marci EvansConnect / TrainingAoife and Rhian offer clinician training for NHS, HSE, and private practice teams on:Eating Disorders in the context of Bariatric Surgery and GLP-1 MedicationsFor training enquiries, please get in touch directly: Contact

Welcome to the very first episode of Inside Bariatrics.In this opening episode, Aoife McMahon shares why this podcast exists and explores something that often gets missed in conversations about bariatric surgery: the reality that life after surgery is about more than weight loss alone.Through the story of “Sinead,” we look at the broad spectrum of bariatric outcomes—from physical and medical changes to emotional wellbeing, relationships, confidence, and day-to-day life.Because bariatric surgery is never just about the number on the scale.Whether you’re considering surgery, living with it, working in this field, or supporting someone who is, you’re very welcome here.In this episode:• Why Inside Bariatrics was created • The gap in current bariatric conversations • The physical, emotional and social impact of surgery • Three different post-surgery scenarios • Why informed choice and compassionate support matterIf you'd like support exploring any of the themes discussed in this episode, you’re welcome to visit www.centreforliberatingnutrition.com for virtual one-to-one support and professional training available in the UK and Ireland, or come say hello on Instagram @thatirishdietitian.You deserve care that sees your whole self - not just your weight.