In this powerful episode of The Bari Chronicles, Damo and Tash tackle the ongoing issue of weight stigma in healthcare and why so many people living in larger bodies avoid seeking medical treatment altogether.Recorded at the Digital Health Festival in Melbourne, this honest conversation explores the emotional impact of being judged, shamed, or dismissed in medical settings. From public weigh-ins to inaccessible seating and the assumption that every health issue is simply “because of weight,” Damo and Tash share why dignity, compassion, and lived experience must become part of the conversation in healthcare.They discuss the importance of creating truly inclusive healthcare spaces, protecting patient dignity, and listening to the voices of people who have lived with obesity. This episode is a reminder that everybody deserves respectful, compassionate care — regardless of their size.If you’ve ever delayed medical treatment because of fear, shame, or stigma, this episode is for you.We’d also love to hear your story.

In this deeply personal episode of Bariatric Support Australia’s The Bari Chronicles, Damien and Tash open up about the emotional relationship many people have with food after bariatric surgery. From childhood memories tied to Easter chocolate, to food noise, grief, shame, addiction, and learning what moderation really means — this is an honest conversation about the realities of life years after surgery.They discuss how surgery changes the body, but not always the emotional connections we have with food, and why psychological support, self-awareness, and self-compassion are so important on the long-term journey.This episode is raw, reflective, and filled with lived experience that many in the bariatric community will deeply relate to.

After a bit of a hiatus (life has a way of doing that), Tash and Damo are finally back together for a long-overdue catch-up. In this episode, they get real about what's been going on behind the scenes — Damo's recent surgery and a pretty scary complication with a partially collapsed lung, Tash navigating nine weeks post-op life, and all the big life stuff in between, including their dad returning home after four months in Fiji following the loss of their mum. They also dig into what Easter looks like when you're on a bariatric journey — the moderation debate, food plans, emotional eating, and why having a plan matters. It's honest, it's heartfelt, and it's so good to be back.

For many people, the journey doesn’t end after weight loss surgery… it evolves.In this episode, we sit down with Dr Qiuye Cheng to unpack one of the most overlooked parts of the bariatric journey — excess skin and the reality of skin removal surgery.We go beyond the surface conversation and get real about what this actually looks like in day-to-day life. This is not about aesthetics. This is about function, comfort, and quality of life.We discuss:• Why excess skin can become a serious medical issue — not just cosmetic• The physical realities: tearing, rashes, infections, and limitations on movement • The psychological toll and stigma that still exists• Why so many people are unprepared for this stage of the journey• The true cost barriers and lack of access through the public system• What procedures like tummy tucks and 360 body lifts actually involve• When the right time is to consider skin removal (and why most people rush it)• The importance of realistic expectations and understanding your bodyWe also share raw lived experiences — including complications, multiple surgeries, and the reality that outcomes don’t always match expectations.This is one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about life after massive weight loss.Because this part matters just as much as the surgery itself.

A raw and honest conversation filmed inside Austin Health with surgeon Dr Alex Craven about what really happens after bariatric surgery.This isn’t the polished version people usually see.We unpack long-term reflux, weight regain, and the emotional spiral that can come with it. The part where you think you’ve failed… even when you’ve actually achieved more than most.We also break down:Why online advice will never replace proper medical assessmentHow surgeons actually think during a consultationThe reality of weight loss outcomes vs expectationsThe role of nutrition, iron deficiency, and energy levelsWhy diabetes changes the entire conversationThe truth about GLP-1 medications and tolerance post-surgeryTelehealth vs face-to-face care and when each mattersThis is about bridging the gap between lived experience and clinical reality.Because what you feel… and what the data says… are often two very different things.If you’ve ever questioned your results, struggled with reflux, or felt like you’ve “blown it” after surgery, this conversation will hit home.

In this episode, we sit down with leading bariatric dietitian Daniella Di Benedetto to unpack one of the most misunderstood and often overlooked complications after gastric bypass surgery: reactive hypoglycemia.We dive into what it is, why it happens, how it differs from dumping syndrome, and why so many patients are being misdiagnosed or dismissed.If you have ever experienced dizziness, sweats, confusion, or unexplained crashes after eating, this conversation could be the missing piece you have been searching for.This is a must-listen for anyone pre or post-op, as well as healthcare professionals wanting to better understand the long-term realities of bariatric surgery.

In this insightful interview, Dr. Alex Craven discusses the realities of sleeve gastrectomy, including expectations, complications, hormonal effects, and long-term outcomes. Gain expert insights into what patients can realistically expect from the procedure and how to approach weight management with informed perspectives.

In this episode of The Bari Chronicles, Damo talks about something he never thought he would be doing again getting ready for bariatric surgery a second time.Twelve years after his original sleeve, ongoing reflux, anatomical issues and worsening health have made revision surgery unavoidable. Joined by Tash, Kim and Stephen, the conversation is honest, practical and real. No sugar coating and no brochure talk.They unpack what pre op is actually like when you have been through it before, the trauma that can come with it and how much difference experience and support make the second time around. From meal replacement struggles to getting creative with the food you are allowed to eat, this episode is full of practical advice based on lived experience.Damo also shares what life has been like dealing with severe reflux, aspirating at night, dental damage and managing type 2 diabetes, including dangerous overnight hypos and the importance of having a medical team that actually communicates.This is a conversation about health not just weight. About doing what needs to be done even when it is frustrating or scary and not part of the plan. And about why community and shared knowledge matter so much in bariatric life.With Tash, Damo, Kim and Stephen.

Lipoedema is one of the most misunderstood and under-diagnosed conditions affecting women today — and for many, it takes decades to be recognised.In this episode, Sally Baker, a nurse who works closely with patients living with lipoedema, joins us for a grounded, evidence-informed conversation about lipoedema as a chronic connective-tissue disorder, not a failure of diet, willpower, or exercise. With an estimated 1 in 10 women affected and an average diagnostic delay of up to 30 years, the human cost of misunderstanding this condition is significant.Together, we explore:What lipoedema actually is — and how it differs from obesity and lymphedemaThe underlying connective-tissue pathology, inflammation, and fibrotic fat nodulesHallmark signs such as pain, easy bruising, cuffing, and disproportionate limb enlargementThe visual staging system and why pain does not always align with disease stageWhy BMI often fails lipoedema patients — and what measurements are more clinically usefulA practical five-pillar management approach, including anti-inflammatory nutrition, compression therapy, low-impact exercise, mental-health support, and surgical considerationsThe real-world barriers patients face in Australia when seeking diagnosis, treatment, and fundingEmerging research and future directions discussed at the World Congress on Lipoedema in RomeThis episode is essential listening for patients, healthcare professionals, and anyone who has ever been told to “just lose weight” when their body was signalling something else entirely.If you or someone you love is living with unexplained pain, swelling, bruising, or disproportionate fat distribution, this conversation with Sally Baker may help you finally feel seen — and understood.

Lipoedema is still widely misunderstood, under-recognised, and too often dismissed as “just weight.” In this episode of The Bari Chronicles, we’re joined by Nadia Walton, physiotherapist and lymphoedema practitioner from Laneways Physiotherapy & Lymphoedema, to unpack what lipoedema actually is — and what it isn’t.We explore why lipoedema is an inflammatory connective tissue condition, why it is resistant to traditional weight-loss approaches, and why so many people spend years blaming themselves before receiving a provisional diagnosis. Nadia explains common symptoms including pain, bruising, heaviness, and disproportionate fat distribution, and why bariatric surgery or GLP-1 medications don’t always produce the outcomes people expect.This conversation also tackles the emotional reality of lipoedema — fear in younger patients, relief in those diagnosed later in life, and the psychological toll of chasing “fixes” that don’t work. We discuss conservative management, compression, movement, inflammation-aware nutrition, and why sustainable, long-term care matters far more than extreme or expensive interventions.If you’ve ever felt unheard, blamed, or confused about why your body doesn’t respond the way it “should,” this episode offers clarity, compassion, and realistic guidance.🎧 A must-listen for patients, clinicians, and anyone working in obesity, chronic pain, or women’s health.