Patients undergo 3 seminar sessions with the bariatric psychologist prior to their surgery. These will aim to prepare them for the lifestyle changes that will occur / they will have to make after surgery

Patients will proceed to surgery as usual. They will complete psychological assessment forms at their follow up clinic sessions.

Session 1: Help patients understand their relationship to food. Patients complete a 'food diary' as 'homework'. Give information about lifestyle changes after surgery. Presents the model of 'stress' and how it influences 'overeating', to develop a more balanced lifestyle and better QoL.

Session 2: 'Intervention' using Compassion Focussed Therapy model to understand relationship to food from their diary. Help develop a 'minimising overeating plan' (a 'relapse prevention' plan). Help learn to meet needs in other ways than food.

Session 3: Focus on physical body. Current body image, explore hopes and expectations for after surgery. Consider how to manage changes to social reactions and sexual relationships that may occur.

At 12 months, patients will attend clinic and complete a battery of psychological assessment questionnaires and the results compared to see if there is a quantifiable difference in the quality of life and mental health outcomes of patients that undergo preparation seminars and those that do not.

At 12 months, patients will attend clinic and complete a battery of psychological assessment questionnaires and the results compared to see if there is a quantifiable difference in the quality of life and mental health outcomes of patients that undergo preparation seminars and those that do not.