What should patients considering bariatric surgery have attempted prior to surgery?

Patients considering bariatric surgery should have attempted dietary management for at least 6 months prior to undergoing the procedure. This requirement is critical because bariatric surgery is generally seen as a last resort for managing obesity when other non-surgical methods have failed to produce sustainable results. The goal of dietary management is to help patients demonstrate their ability to follow a structured plan for weight loss, which may include dietary changes, portion control, and lifestyle modifications.

This approach also serves to assess the patient's commitment to making long-term changes that are essential for the success of bariatric surgery. Successfully managing weight through lifestyle modifications indicates that the patient is more likely to adhere to post-surgical guidelines, which are vital for maintaining weight loss and ensuring overall health.

While surgical intervention, physical therapy, and psychiatric evaluations are relevant aspects of a comprehensive pre-operative assessment, they are not specifically mandated as prior attempts or treatments to achieve weight loss before considering surgery. Each of these components can play a role in the overall management plan, but they do not replace the foundational requirement of having successfully attempted dietary management.