Weight Loss Information Session and Support Groups

Choosing to have bariatric surgery is a big decision, but with the Center for Weight Loss Surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, you are not alone. Attend one of our support groups for individuals who are considering surgery, pre- or post-surgery. Learn more about the support groups and find the schedule below.

• Types of Support Group Meetings
• Attendance Requirements
• Meeting Schedule
• Location and Parking Information

Types of Support Group Meetings

New Patient Instructional Meetings:

These meetings are designed for pre-consultation patients. The surgeons take turns presenting this program and focus on how weight loss surgery is beneficial for treating the disease of obesity and other associated diseases, why and how it works, complications, results, etc.

Meeting time: This group meets the second Tuesday and last Thursday of each month except where noted on the schedule below. Participants may choose to attend virtually or in person. Register online.

You should know in advance that we do not perform Laparoscopic Gastric Band (lap band) surgery but will remove the band and convert to other bariatric procedures as indicated after individual consultation with the team.

Community Support Group Meetings:

This is open to all Center for Weight Loss Surgery pre- and post-surgical patients. The group addresses all aspects of life after weight loss surgery and includes guest speakers, workshops and patient interviews. A nurse and nutritionist lead the meetings on the first Thursday and a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist and our coordinator facilitate the meeting on the third Tuesday.

Attendance is required at least once before surgery and regular attendance before and after surgery is strongly recommended.

Meeting time: This group meets the first Thursday and third Tuesday of each month.

Call 617-243-3724 for more information and to sign up.

0-6 Month Group:

Open to patients who are thinking about surgery, in the process, or who have had surgery within the last six months.

This group is led by Bariatric Surgery Program Coordinators and provides unique insight into the challenges (diet, body image, food issues, support, etc.) of this early post-operative stage.

Attendance is required at least once before surgery.

Meeting time: This group meets the second Thursday and fourth Monday of each month except where noted on the schedule below.

Call 617-243-3724 for more information and to sign up.

Living with Weight Loss Surgery:

Open to patients 1 year after surgery who are struggling with maintaining healthy behaviors or gaining weight.

This group is led by Bariatric Surgery Program Coordinators.

Meeting time: This group meets the third Monday of each month except where noted on the schedule below. Staff Request: Please limit your questions and discussions with staff persons in the time allocated for the assigned support group. Specific and/or personal questions or concerns should be addressed with staff during normal business hours.

Call 617-243-3724 for more information and to sign up.

Attendance Requirements

Pre-operative Patients

Prior to scheduling surgery, we require our patients to attend three support group meetings:

1. The New Patient Instructional

2. One community support meeting

3. One 0-6 month group

This is the minimum number of meetings you need to attend. You can come to more meetings which will provide you with the most information and education available in preparation for your surgery. Attendance is taken to track compliance. It is your responsibility to make sure your attendance is noted by one of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital's Center for Weight Loss Surgery staff members. Always sign the attendance sheet as well.

Attendance is taken to track compliance. It is your responsibility to make sure your attendance is noted by one of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital's Center for Weight Loss Surgery staff members. Always sign the attendance sheet as well.

Meeting Schedule

May

5/30/19 6:00 pm Thursday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

June

6/6/19 6:30 pm Thursday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

6/11/19 6:00 pm Tuesday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

6/13/19 6:30 pm Thursday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

6/17/19 6:00 pm Monday 
Living with Weight Loss Surgery Group (ONLY for patient’s >1yr out from surgery) Shipley Auditorium 

6/24/19 6:30 pm Monday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

6/27/19 6:00 pm Thursday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

July

7/9/19 6:00 pm Tuesday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

7/11/19 6:30 pm Thursday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

7/15/19 6:00 pm Monday 
Living with Weight Loss Surgery Group (ONLY for patient’s >1yr out from surgery) Shipley Auditorium 

7/16/19 6:30 pm Tuesday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

7/22/19 6:30 pm Monday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

7/25/19 6:00 pm Thursday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

August

8/1/19 6:30 pm Thursday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

8/8/19 6:30 pm Thursday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

8/13/19 6:00 pm Tuesday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

8/19/19 6:00 pm Monday 
Living with Weight Loss Surgery Group (ONLY for patient’s >1yr out from surgery) Shipley Auditorium 

8/20/19 6:30 pm Tuesday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

8/26/19 6:30 pm Monday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

8/29/19 6:00 pm Thursday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

September

9/5/19 6:30 pm Thursday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

9/10/19 6:00 pm Tuesday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

9/12/19 6:30 pm Thursday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

9/16/19 6:00 pm Monday 
Living with Weight Loss Surgery Group (ONLY for patient’s >1yr out from surgery) Shipley Auditorium 

9/17/19 6:30 pm Tuesday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

9/23/19 6:30 pm Monday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

9/26/19 6:00 pm Thursday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

October

10/3/19 6:30 pm Thursday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

10/8/19 6:00 pm Tuesday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

10/10/19 6:30 pm Thursday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

10/15/19 6:30 pm Tuesday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

10/21/19 6:00 pm Monday 
Living with Weight Loss Surgery Group (ONLY for patient’s >1yr out from surgery) Shipley Auditorium 

10/24/19 6:00 pm Thursday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

10/28/19 6:30 pm Monday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

November

11/7/19 6:30 pm Thursday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

11/12/19 6:00 pm Tuesday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

11/14/19 6:30 pm Thursday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

11/18/19 6:00 pm Monday 
Living with Weight Loss Surgery Group (ONLY for patient’s >1yr out from surgery) Shipley Auditorium 

11/19/19 6:30 pm Tuesday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

11/25/19 6:30 pm Monday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

December

12/5/19 6:30 pm Thursday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

12/10/19 6:00 pm Tuesday
New Patient Instructional Meeting Shipley Auditorium
Moderator: NWH Bariatric Surgeon

12/12/19 6:30 pm Thursday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

12/16/19 6:00 pm Monday 
Living with Weight Loss Surgery Group (ONLY for patient’s >1yr out from surgery) Shipley Auditorium 

12/17/19 6:30 pm Tuesday
Community Support Group Shipley Auditorium

12/23/19 6:30 pm Monday
0-6 Month Group Shipley Auditorium

Location and Parking Information

All meetings take place in the Allen-Riddle Living Room on the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Campus or in the Shipley Auditorium located on the second floor of the Main Hospital. Unless otherwise specified.

Directions to Allen-Riddle Building
Turn off of Route 16 at the traffic light leading into the hospital campus. Drive up the driveway with the parking garage on your right. Allen-Riddle is on your left at the top of the hill.

Directions to Shipley Auditorium
Turn off of Route 16 at the West Entrance to the Main Hospital. Drive up the driveway with the parking lot on your left. Take the West Elevators or South Elevators off of the Main Lobby of the hospital to the second floor and follow the signs to the Cafeteria. Shipley Auditorium is located on the left directly past the cafeteria.

Parking
All support group attendees may park in the visitor lot located at the front of the hospital or the garage at the entrance by the traffic light. Parking located close to the Allen Riddle building should be reserved for handicapped persons and severely physically impaired.

Handicapped Parking
Those patients who are handicapped, or have severely impaired mobility, may park:

• Handicapped spots across from Allen Riddle building (with tag or plate clearly visible)
• In the small number of parking spaces located in the rear of the Allen Riddle building
• Handicapped spots in front of the Mass General Cancer Center? if attending a meeting in the Shipley Auditorium.

Please do not park in the Emergency Department garage.

Due to the limited number of handicapped parking located close to the building, we would encourage those persons whenever possible, to bring someone with them to the meeting who may be able to assist - or drop off that individual in front of the Allen-Riddle Building - in the event that this area is full. The handicap entrance is in the front of the building near the courtyard.