Health and Quality of Life Before and After Surgical Treatment for Severe Obesity

This comprehensive study investigates the profound impact of surgical interventions on severe obesity. Focusing on patient health, quality of life, and risk variables associated with physical illness, the research aims to uncover the long-term effects and predictors of change post-surgery.

Project Description

The primary goal of this study is to deepen our understanding of how surgical treatment for morbid obesity influences key biomedical indicators and patients' self-perception of health and quality of life. It seeks to identify predictors of these changes, hypothesizing significant improvements in both risk variables and health-related quality of life following surgery.

Adopting a prospective cohort study approach, the project plans to enroll 500 patients. Data collection is designed to occur at multiple intervals: pre-operation, and 1, 5, and 10 years post-surgery. This longitudinal approach allows for a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and sustainability of treatment outcomes.

The study encompasses two primary surgical procedures. Approximately one-third of the patients will undergo the Duodenal Switch, involving the removal of about 60% of the stomach and bypassing parts of the small intestine. The remaining participants will receive the Gastric Sleeve surgery, where roughly 80% of the stomach is excised. These procedures represent the latest advancements in surgical treatment for severe obesity.

To ensure a holistic understanding, the study will gather a wide array of data, including medical history, clinical examinations, blood tests, and responses from various self-administered questionnaires. This comprehensive data collection aims to paint a detailed picture of the physical and psychological impacts of obesity surgery, contributing significantly to the field of bariatric surgery and patient care.

More about the project in Cristin: 

Key information: 

Main contributors: John Roger Andersen, Villy Våge, Anny Aasprang, Eli Natvik, Pål Andre Hegland
Funding: Førde Hospital Trust, Western Norway Hospital Trust, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.
Project Period: 2009-2025
Collaborating Institutions: Førde Hospital Trust, Bergen Hospital Trust, University of Bergen, Western Norway University of apllied Sciences, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA, St. Olav Hospital, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Roehampton, London, UK, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Cristin: Helse og livskvalitet før og etter kirurgisk behandling for sjukleg overvekt (In Norwegian), Carrying the weight of uncertainty: Patients' long-term experiences after bariatric surgery, Being, Becoming and Doing Weight: Embodied Identity and Life Story following Weight Loss Surgery, The Patient-Reported Outcomes in Obesity (PROS) questionnaire