PLENARY SESSION #3: Are we putting too much weight on Weight Regain?

Psychosocial Approaches to Weight Regain: Assessment and Intervention

Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, MD, MHPE, FRCPC, FACLP
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Psychosocial Director, UHN Bariatric Surgery Program
Physician-in-Chief, VP Education and Clinician Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

 

Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and the Director of the Bariatric Surgery Psychosocial Program at the Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. He is a Clinician Scientist, Physician-in-Chief, and Vice-President, Education at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He is also the Co-Chair of ECHO Ontario Mental Health.

Dr. Sockalingam has more than 220 peer-reviewed publications and is the co-editor of the book “Psychiatric Care in Severe Obesity” and a second book by Cambridge University Press called “Psychological Care in Severe Obesity: A Practical Approach”. His research focuses on examining predictors of psychosocial outcomes related to obesity care and evaluating psychological treatments for obesity, including virtual treatment modalities. Dr. Sockalingam is also a co-author of the 2020 Canadian Obesity Guidelines, specifically the mental health section.

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Objectives:

1. Recognize the role of mental health in addressing weight regain after bariatric surgery and introduce Ontario Bariatric Network Weight Regain Task Force psychosocial recommendations. 
2. Identify psychosocial domains for assessment and assessment tools to assist with developing a comprehensive intervention plan to support the management of weight regain. 
3. Describe levels of psychosocial interventions and evidence-based treatments that can address mental health factors contributing to weight regain after bariatric surgery.