The BariNation Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Have you experienced weight recurrence after bariatric surgery, or worried about it happening to you? Do you want to understand how to manage your weight loss journey as a chronic disease? Tune in to this enlightening episode of the BariNation podcast to gain clarity! 

We know how daunting weight recurrence can feel after bariatric surgery, and that’s why we’re thrilled to bring you this powerful episode of the BariNation podcast. Joining us again is Dr. Saniea F. Majid, a dedicated bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist,to discuss weight gain as part of the chronic disease of obesity. Her research-driven insights and compassionate approach to patient empowerment will leave you inspired, equipped with tools to navigate your weight loss journey, and ready to advocate for your metabolic wellness with confidence. Weight recurrence isn’t your fault.

Don’t forget! BariNation is proud to be this year's National Sponsor of TREO Foundation's The Walk: Stomp the Stigma. Sign up to join BariNation’s virtual team for the September 27th, 2025, The Walk: Stomp the Stigma, which raises awareness and access to care. There are also 12 in person walks happening and more being organized. To find a walk near you, or set one up visit the TREO Foundation website linked below.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:28)  Join BariNation for the TREO Foundation’s The Walk: Stomp the Stigma on Saturday, September 27th
• (02:03) Dr. Majid introduces herself, highlighting her emphasis on obesity as a chronic disease. 
• (06:10) Discussion of understanding and defining weight recurrence and what research reveals
• (16:45) Frame weight recurrence as a disease progression and focus on disease management
• (26:15) Patients should return to their bariatric surgeon for weight recurrence issues
• (34:30) Dr. Majid stresses patient empowerment through education 
• (40:06) Bariatric surgery improves metabolic wellness beyond weight loss, such as resolving sleep apnea
• (48:28) Seeing bariatric surgery as a transformative obesity treatment, and a health transformation 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Weight recurrence is a natural part of the chronic disease of obesity, not a patient failure, and understanding it as a disease management issue can empower bariatric community members to seek timely bariatric care and maintain their weight loss journey.
• Bariatric surgery significantly alters the trajectory of weight gain, improving metabolic wellness by reducing the severity of obesity-related conditions. Still, ongoing follow-ups with a bariatric surgeon are crucial for sustained health transformation.
• Standardizing definitions for weight recurrence is essential for effective obesity treatment, enabling clinicians and patients to address weight management proactively and foster patient empowerment through education and obesity awareness.

RESOURCES:

• Join BariNation on the TREO Walk
• TREO Foundation - The Walk
• TREO Walk Discounted BariNation Membership  
• BariNation x TREO Landing Page
• TREO Fall In-Person Walks
• Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery: Scope of the Problem, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
• Meet Dr. Majid – Award Winning Weight Loss Doctor NJ | WLWC
• Weight Loss & Wellness Center - Instagram 
• Dr. Majid’s Email
• BariNation Website
• BariNation - Email

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Saniea Majid, a board-certified bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist, founded the Weight Loss and Wellness Center in northern New Jersey, leading innovative bariatric surgery programs. She pioneered minimally invasive and endoscopic treatments, including New Jersey’s first adjustable gastric balloon and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, while establishing MBSAQIP-accredited centers. Committed to obesity care, she expands access to treatments for childhood and adolescent obesity, integrating nutrition and behavioral health. As TREO Foundation president and ASMBS leader, Dr. Majid drives critical research and stigma awareness to advance bariatric community care.

Tune in, and don’t forget to join the BariNation Community to attend community meetups, watch exclusive bonus content and support the podcast for as little as $5 per month!  You can also contribute to BariNation and become a Drive To Thrive Supporter with a one-time or recurring donation.

Are you ready to stomp the stigma around obesity care and treatment? Walk with us! Don’t miss this BariNation episode that’s all about empowering the bariatric community! BariNation is proud to be this year's National Sponsor of TREO Foundation's The Walk: Stomp the Stigma.

Joining us is Dr. Saniea F. Majid, a bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist who’s leading the charge as President of the TREO Foundation. She and April discuss the Virtual Walk on September 27th, 2025 and how to find an In Person Walk near you.  At the heart of this event is the TREO Foundation's work around the goal of impacting personal wellness and treatment improvement.  People suffering from the disease of obesity face stigma in all aspects of their lives including medical providers. Dr. Majid discusses the importance of patient involvement, the role of the ASMBS conference in advancing critical research, and how the virtual team for the September 27th, 2025, The Walk: Stomp the Stigma, is going to be raising awareness and access to care. There are also 12 in person walks happening and more being organized. To find a walk near you, or set one up visit the TREO Foundation website linked below.

Tune in, and don’t forget to join the BariNation Community to attend community meetups, watch exclusive bonus content and support the podcast for as little as $5 per month!  You can also contribute to BariNation and become a Drive To Thrive Supporter with a one-time or recurring donation.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (00:29) Join BariNation for the TREO Foundation’s virtual The Walk: Stomp the Stigma on Saturday, September 27th, 2025
• (01:52) Dr. Saniea F. Majid introduces herself, highlighting her holistic approach to wellness 
• (04:00) The TREO Foundation’s mission emphasizes its role in stigma awareness and access to care
• (05:32) The societal bias against obesity, its impact on personal wellness, and the need for public action 
• (07:37) Research by the ASMBS has led to advancements like GLP-1 medications
• (09:47) Dr. Majid addresses bias in healthcare and reducing it through education

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• BariNation is a proud national sponsor of the TREO Foundation’s Stomp The Stigma Walk on September 27th, 2025, encouraging the bariatric community to join their virtual team to raise stigma awareness and support obesity care.
• The TREO Foundation focuses on treatment improvements, critical research, and education to enhance access to care and combat weight recurrence, as highlighted by Dr. Saniea F. Majid at the ASMBS conference.
• Patient involvement in the TREO Foundation’s initiatives, like The Walk, Stomp the Stigma, promotes public action and fosters personal wellness by addressing bias even in the healthcare field and improving bariatric surgery outcomes.

RESOURCES:

• Join BariNation on the TREO Walk
• TREO Foundation - The Walk
• TREO Walk Discounted BariNation Membership  
• BariNation x TREO Landing Page
• Meet Dr. Majid – Award Winning Weight Loss Doctor NJ | WLWC
• Dr. Majid’s Email
• BariNation’s How to Find an Obesity Specialist Guide
• BariNation Website
• BariNation - Email

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Saniea Majid, a board-certified bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist, founded the Weight Loss and Wellness Center in northern New Jersey, leading innovative bariatric surgery programs. She pioneered minimally invasive and endoscopic treatments, including New Jersey’s first adjustable gastric balloon and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, while establishing MBSAQIP-accredited centers. Committed to obesity care, she expands access to treatments for childhood and adolescent obesity, integrating nutrition and behavioral health. As TREO Foundation president and ASMBS leader, Dr. Majid drives critical research and stigma awareness to advance bariatric community care.

Are you ready to confront the shame and stigma surrounding obesity? Want to join a community that empowers your bariatric journey? 

In this episode, straight from the ASMBS conference in Washington, DC, we unpack the Mason Lecture’s powerful insights on easing shame and stigma in obesity care. We delve into how these barriers hinder treatment, fuel weight regain, and even originate from medical providers, while highlighting how our patient community inspires us to overcome these challenges. 

Tune in, and don’t forget to join the BariNation Community to attend community meetups, watch exclusive bonus content and support the podcast for as little as $5 per month!  You can also contribute to BariNation and become a Drive To Thrive Supporter with a one-time donation.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:45) The significance of the Mason Lecture and its focus, and how stigma comes from society, family, and medical providers.
• (02:45) Research shows that shame and stigma can lead to weight recurrence 
• (06:45) Patients are often more stigmatized after choosing obesity treatment
• (08:00) Emphasis on how peer support and patient community are essential tools for healing and overcoming shame
• (09:15) Research validates patient experiences with shame and stigma
• (13:10) Join the BariNation Community to receive the support you deserve

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Shame and stigma—especially from medical providers—are significant barriers to obesity treatment. Patients with obesity face both internal and external shame that not only discourages them from seeking care but can also increase the risk of weight regain after treatment. Research shows that a significant portion of this stigma originates from the very healthcare professionals meant to support them.
• Obesity treatment can ironically increase stigma. Even after choosing medical or surgical intervention, patients often feel greater judgment and isolation, leading many to keep their treatment decisions secret. The societal narrative shifts from blaming people for their weight to blaming them for how they address it, making shame a persistent issue regardless of treatment status.
•  While systemic changes in research, policy, and provider education are crucial, the most immediate and effective support comes from community connection. Sharing experiences with others who understand the journey helps reduce the power of shame, fosters acceptance, and creates a space where patients can truly feel seen and supported.

RESOURCES:

• BariNation Website 
• BariNation - Email

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

We need your help to keep the BariNation Podcast in production. Your one-time or recurring donations help us ensure this free support remains open to everyone. Click Drive To Thrive - Donation to learn more and give. THANK YOU for your support!  

Walking is one of the most accessible types of movement, yet we often hear bariatric patients downplay the amazing role it can play along our journey. “All I did was walk today” is something we often hear spoken in the community, and we are on a mission to flip that script!

Waking has tremendous health benefits that span all facets of our overall well-being. It positively impacts brain and cardiovascular health and can help us eliminate the visceral fat that often leads to dangerous medical issues. Walking truly is a powerful form of movement that is simple to incorporate into our day, free to everyone, and easy to enjoy in the company of others!

Dr. Pesta and Dr. McMann join us for this amazing conversation about the power of walking and introduce us to the TREO Foundation, an organization on a mission to raise obesity awareness and power medical research that is making positive and profound impacts on patients' lives. Their virtual Walk From Obesity is happening on November 4th, 2023, and BariNation is proud to be hosting a virtual walking team! We are raising funds for this important research and moving together for a great cause! Click HERE to learn more about the TREO Foundation and join the Barination Virtual Walk Team! 

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If our podcast has helped you along your bariatric journey, help support it by becoming a monthly donor! Your support helps us fuel this labor of love and ensures that it reaches patients when and where they need it the most. Click the link in the show notes on our Spotify homepage and be the future of BariNation!

Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

Grief is an emotion that is triggered by the loss of something. Grief indicates a loss of connection, a severance between us and something or someone. Bariatric patients can experience grief along their journey but not realize it in the moment. We can be filled with feelings of sadness, anger, and resentment and wonder why we are feeling these things, especially when we think we should only be feeling happiness and joy after surgery. Turns out, grief is a normal emotion after surgery and recognizing it is the first step to move through it.

In this episode, we sat down with Lora Grabow, an amazing bariatric therapist and expert in the BariNation Support Community to understand grief from our bariatric lens. We wanted to know why it happens, how to recognize it, and what we can do to move through it. We invite you to join Lora in her upcoming Growing Through Grief class on Thursday, October 17th at 4:30pm PST / 7:30 pm EST in our Support Community. Learn in real time from the experts, with the support of your bariatric peers! Visit www.barination.mn.co to become a member and RSVP to the class! Follow Lora on Instagram @bariatric.therapist and visit her online at loragrabow.com

Have you experienced grief along your bariatric journey? Was the emotion of grief something you expected to encounter in your post op life? Respond to these questions on our Spotify homepage or keep the conversation going in the Community! 

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If our podcast has helped you along your bariatric journey, help support it by becoming a monthly donor! Your support helps us fuel this labor of love and ensures that it reaches patients when and where they need it the most. Click the link in the show notes on our Spotify homepage and be the future of BariNation!

Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

The season is changing and we are looking fallward! April, Jason, and Natalie sat down for a reflective conversation about the season ahead and what they are hoping it will hold for them. Jason made a big breakthrough during our conversation that he is hopeful will help him get to back to a place of holistic wellness. And all three shared some things that have been making a positive impact on their bariatric journeys! 

If you have been struggling with some major changes in your personal life and finding that you are having a hard time being okay, this episode is for you. Goodby summer, hello fall!

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For 10% off all ProCare Vitamins and supplements, use code BariNation.Join our Patreon to help support the podcast by going to patreon.com/BariNationPodcast.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Self-care is having a *moment*. But for good reason. Our modern lives can make caring for ourselves seem antiquated. There is a feeling that if every second of our lives is not filled with something useful or progressive towards our goals, it is actually empty. This is simply not true. Self-care is not something we do to brush off feelings of pain, anger, or frustration. They are actions we can take that actually make a positiv impact on our life. 

So what does modern self-care look like? How does a busy mom of two, entrepreneur of multiple thriving businesses, active wife, aunt, and adult child do to show reguard for her own health? You might be suprised! Listen or watch on to find out! Spoiler alert- hanging out with your friends, specifically your bari friends made the list :) We also had a wonderful conversation about the upcoming fall Bariatric Soceity Retreat in San Antonio, Texas! JOIN US! 

For more information about this amazing Retreat and to purchase tickets, visit www.bariatricsociety/retreat. Use code BariNation when you check out for $20 off your ticket!

Follow Stephanie on Instagram at @one_hungry_mother and on her business page, Bariatric Society, at @bariatricsoceity. 

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For 10% off all ProCare Vitamins and supplements, use code BariNation. And if your purchase a vitamin subscription, you can get access to a 4-week trial and a discounted monthly rate!Join our Patreon to help support the podcast by going to patreon.com/BariNationPodcast.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

How do we know it is time to take that leap of faith and pursue something that is more aligned to our purpose and mission in life? After bariatric surgery, many patients find themselves wanting something more, something bigger. They realize they have been holding back from pursuing their dreams and are no longer satisfied waiting on the sidelines of their own life. 

Big decisions require some meaningful conversation and our friend and fellow bariatric patient, Kedric Barrent sat down with BariNation to explain exactly how he did it! Follow Kedric on Instagram @keduncut and let him know how his story inspires you to take your own leap of faith!

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For 10% off all ProCare Vitamins and supplements, use code BariNation.Join our Patreon to help support the podcast by going to patreon.com/BariNationPodcast.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

This week we chatted with BariNation community member, bariatric patient, and dear friend Herb, to chat through how he is choosing himself and his bariatric journey, even when life gets hard.

Herb has always shown us what it means to love and be true to ourselves and our hearts, and he shares some of his gems of wisdom with us and you, our listeners! 

You can follow Herb on Instagram @herbiatric and connect with him in the BariNation community.

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For 10% off all ProCare Vitamins and supplements, use code BariNation.Join our Patreon to help support the podcast by going to patreon.com/BariNationPodcast.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

This week, we (April, Jason, and Natalie) sat down with each other for a much needed check-in. Having time to have raw and real conversations has been rare these days, so when we had the time we made it happen. Life hasn’t slowed down, in fact it’s only ramped up, this summer and we needed some time to break down the walls and give each other an update.

As we spoke, we realized that self-love really isn’t the flashy, toxic positivity we all tend to see online. Instead, it looks like: allowing ourselves to feel our feelings, sticking to our bariatric basics while life feels chaotic, and practicing being present in our day to day lives. 

As you listen to this episode, we want to know: How are you practicing self-love this summer? 

Feel free to let us know on Instagram, Threads, and in the BariNation membership community! 

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Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers