A study using semi-structured interview and Delphi survey to explore the barriers and enabling factors that influence access and utilisation of weight management services for people living with morbid obesity: A patient and professional perspective.

BACKGROUND: A quarter of the United Kingdom's population are living with obesity, a disease that causes an estimated 30 000 deaths each year. This coincides with an under-utilisation of weight management services across the country with the majority of patients with morbid obesity having no record of any weight loss intervention at all. This study explores the factors that influence patient access to weight management services. METHODOLOGY: Expert opinion was obtained using semi-structured interviews and the Delphi methodology. Participants were selected from primary and secondary healthcare settings. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) had experience working in weight management services or in services dealing with obesity-related comorbidities. Patients had experience in attending a variety weight management services. RESULTS: Nineteen participants completed all aspects of the study. The main barriers included negative perceptions, low mood/depression, obesity not being considered as a serious disease, lack of access to services for housebound patients and disproportionate commissioning. Suggested facilitating factors to improve access included the education of all HCPs about obesity, improving HCP communication with patients, and broadening the number of HCP's that are able to refer to weight management services. CONCLUSIONS: Future services must prioritise the education of all HCPs and the public to combat the stigma of obesity and its impact on health. National commissioning guidelines in partnership with advocates of obesity should seek to streamline referral pathways, broaden referral sources and increase the availability of specialist services. Awareness of these factors when designing future weight management services will help to improve their utilisation.

Weight Loss Improves ß-Cell Function in People With Severe Obesity and Impaired Fasting Glucose: A Window of Opportunity.

BACKGROUND: In people with obesity, ß-cell function may adapt to insulin resistance. We describe ß-cell function in people with severe obesity and normal fasting glucose (NFG), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), as assessed before, 3 to 6 months after, and 2 years after medical weight loss to describe its effects on insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and ß-cell function. METHODS: Fifty-eight participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2 (14 with NFG, 24 with IFG, and 20 with T2DM) and 13 normal weight participants with NFG underwent mixed meal tolerance tests to estimate insulin sensitivity (S[I]), insulin secretion (Φ), and ß-cell function assessed as model-based Φ adjusted for S(I). All 58 obese participants were restudied at 3 to 6 months and 27 were restudied at 2 years. RESULTS: At 3 to 6 months, after a 20-kg weight loss and a decrease in BMI of 6 kg/m2, S(I) improved in all obese participants, Φ decreased in obese participants with NFG and IFG and tended to decrease in obese participants with T2DM, and ß-cell function improved in obese participants with NFG and tended to improve in obese participants with IFG. At 2 years, ß-cell function deteriorated in participants with NFG and T2DM but remained significantly better in participants with IFG compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term weight loss improves ß-cell function in participants with NFG and IFG, but ß-cell function tends to deteriorate over 2 years. In participants with IFG, weight loss improves longer-term ß-cell function relative to baseline and likely relative to no intervention, suggesting that obese people with IFG are a subpopulation whose ß-cell function is most likely to benefit from weight loss.

Competency in obesity management: An educational intervention study with nurse practitioner students.

BACKGROUND: The National Center for Health Statistics reported that obesity is at epidemic levels in the United States, with an estimated 70.7% of adults affected by overweight and obesity. The disease state of obesity affects all generations and is pervasive among all socioeconomic groups. PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the impact of implementing educational modules to determine if the intervention improved knowledge and comfort levels for Nurse Practitioner students when managing patients with obesity. METHODS: Nurse Practitioner students completed a survey regarding knowledge and comfort level in managing patients with obesity. Students then completed modules designed to train health care providers on the management of obesity. A postmodule assessment was administered to determine if the obesity management modules improved competency and perceived skills when treating patients with overweight and obesity. RESULTS: Participants' mean score on the knowledge test represented a significant improvement following training. Their comfort level in managing patients with obesity increased. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Implementing these modules in graduate education may be a helpful avenue to improve competency in obesity management. Acknowledging that obesity is a disease and requires a multifaceted approach when helping patients improve their health. This change in perception may lead to better goal-setting with the patient, empathetic understanding, and broader patient involvement in the treatment.

Dietary and Lifestyle Factors Serve as Predictors of Successful Weight Loss Maintenance Postbariatric Surgery.

Bariatric surgery is considered to be an effective treatment for the resolution of severe obesity; however, in more than half of the bariatric surgery patients, weight reacquisition occurs as early as 18 months postsurgery, compromising the surgery's beneficial effects. Maintaining weight loss after surgery poses a great challenge, necessitating the identification of predicting factors. In the present study, we explored the association between weight regain and dietary habits and behavioral lifestyle practices in patients following bariatric surgery. Fifty patients who underwent bariatric surgery with ≥18-month postoperative period of follow-up were included. They were classified into two groups: weight maintainers (n = 29) were patients who regained <15% of their weight, and weight regainers (n = 21) were patients who regained ≥15% of their weight compared to their lowest postoperative weight. The mean age of the study participants was 41.4 ± 8.9 years, and twenty-eight patients (56%) of the total, were females. A detailed analysis of dietary and lifestyle habits was performed by questionnaire-based interviews. Significant weight regain was noted in the regainers compared to the maintainers (19.6 ± 8.4 kg vs. 4.5 ± 3.5 kg, respectively, P ≤ 0.001), which was attributed to their following of unhealthy dietary habits and behavioral lifestyle practices. The dietary and behavioral lifestyle practices adopted by the maintainers were higher fiber consumption and water intake, monitored pace of eating, evasion of emotional binge, and distracted eating and following of self-assessment behaviors. Additionally, regular nutritional follow-ups and compliance with postoperative dietary counseling significantly helped to improve weight maintenance. In conclusion, the effectiveness of weight loss postbariatric surgery was compromised by weight regain due to unhealthy dietary and behavioral lifestyle practices stemming from a lack of nutritional guidance and knowledge. The implementation of comprehensive nutritional counseling and advice on behavioral changes before and after surgery will help achieve optimal weight results.

Mobile health applications enhance weight loss efficacy following bariatric surgery.

INTRODUCTION: With the epidemic of obesity numerous mobile health (mHealth) applications have been designed with the goal of facilitating weight loss. This technology has the potential to focus behavioral modification in a manner that's effective for weight loss. We examined the use of this mHealth technology in our bariatric surgery population to evaluate effects on weight loss following surgery. METHODS: Single institution prospective randomized control trial performed at an academic center. 56 patients who recently underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) were enrolled into a control group with standard post-operative monitoring and a mHealth application group provided with iPad© minis with the MyFitnessPal© mHealth application. Participants were followed for 24 months. The primary outcomes were effect on weight loss as determined by excess body weight loss (%EWL) and excess BMI loss (%EBL). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in weight loss outcomes between the groups were present throughout the duration of the study. At 12 months, %EWL was 74.41% (control) vs 81.41% (mHealth) p value 0.047 and at 24 months, it was 59.10% (control) vs 71.47% (mHealth) p value 0.0078. %EBL findings at 12 months was 28.02% (control) vs 32.15% (mHealth) p value 0.0007 and at 24 months, it was 25.39% (control) vs 27.87% (mHealth) p value 0.048. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate mHealth applications are a useful adjunct to improve and maintain weight loss following bariatric surgery. We suggest mHealth applications should be utilized following bariatric surgery for improved outcomes.

Weight Loss in Adolescents After Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery is a treatment option for the obese adolescent. There are three primary surgical procedures: the bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and lap band. The most recent literature was reviewed to examine changes in weight, comorbidities, and complications after bariatric surgery in the adolescent. METHOD: A systematic search was performed to identify original research articles published in the United States between the years of 2000 and 2017 with patients between the ages of 11 and 21 years that provided greater than 30 days of results. RESULTS: A total of 23 articles were identified. Weight loss, improvement in comorbidities, and complications after all procedures were reported. DISCUSSION: Outcomes were not reported in a standardized fashion, creating much difficulty in interpreting and comparing results. The sleeve gastrectomy is increasing in incidence, whereas the lap band is decreasing. Further research is needed to draw more definitive conclusions regarding long-term results in the adolescent undergoing bariatric surgery.

Adult obesity prevalence at the county level in the United States, 2000-2010: Downscaling public health survey data using a spatial microsimulation approach.

Obesity is a growing public health concern in the United States. There is a need to monitor obesity prevalence at the local level to intervene in place-specific ways. However, national public health surveys suppress the local geographic information of respondents due to small sample sizes and the protection of confidentiality. This study therefore, uses a spatial microsimulation approach to estimate obesity prevalence rates at the county level across the United States to visualize temporal, spatial and spatio-temporal changes from 2000 to 2010 for use in the monitoring of obesity prevalence. This method iteratively replicates the demographic characteristics of public health survey respondents with census data for those areas. Following, Local Moran's I was used to identify clusters of high and low obesity prevalence. The findings showed that obesity prevalence rose dramatically over the last decade with substantial variation across counties and states. Counties in Southern states, especially along the Mississippi River and Appalachian Mountains and counties containing or in proximity to Native American reservation sites showed elevated obesity prevalence rates across the decade. Counties in Midwestern states had higher obesity prevalence rates compared to counties in Western and Northeastern states. This study demonstrated the use of spatial microsimulation modeling as an alternative method to obtain reliable obesity prevalence rates at the local-level using existing health survey and census data.

Working toward precision medicine approaches to treat severe obesity in adolescents: report of an NIH workshop.

Adolescent severe obesity is a prevalent, chronic, and serious disease with few effective and safe treatment options. To address this issue, a National Institutes of Health-sponsored workshop entitled "Developing Precision Medicine Approaches to the Treatment of Severe Obesity in Adolescents," was convened, bringing together a multidisciplinary group of experts to review the current state of the science and identify (1) what is known regarding the epidemiology and biopsychosocial determinants of severe obesity in adolescents, (2) what is known regarding effectiveness of treatments for severe obesity in adolescents and predictors of response, and (3) gaps and opportunities for future research to develop more effective and targeted treatments for adolescents with severe obesity. Major topical areas discussed at the workshop included: appropriate BMI metrics, valid measures of phenotypes and predictors, mechanisms associated with the development of severe obesity, novel treatments informed by biologically and psychosocially plausible mechanisms, biopsychosocial phenotypes predicting treatment response, standardization of outcome measures and results reporting in research, and improving clinical care. Substantial gaps in knowledge were identified regarding the basic behavioral, psychosocial, and biological mechanisms driving the development of severe obesity and the influence of these factors on treatment response. Additional exploratory and observational studies are needed to better understand the heterogeneous etiology of severe obesity and explain the high degree of variability observed with interventions. Tailored treatment strategies that may be developed by achieving a better understanding of individual differences in genetic endowment, clinical, metabolic, psychological, and behavioral phenotypes, and response to environmental exposures need to be tested. It is anticipated that these recommendations for future research, including strategies to enhance methodological rigor, will advance precision medicine approaches to treat severe obesity in adolescents more effectively.

A Review of Modifiable Risk Factors for Severe Obesity in Children Ages 5 and Under.

Early-onset severe obesity in childhood presents a significant clinical challenge signaling an urgent need for effective and sustainable interventions. A large body of literature examines overweight and obesity, but little focuses specifically on the risk factors for severe obesity in children ages 5 and younger. This narrative review identified modifiable risk factors associated with severe obesity in children ages 5 and younger: nutrition (consuming sugar sweetened beverages and fast food), activity (low frequency of outdoor play and excessive screen time), behaviors (lower satiety responsiveness, sleeping with a bottle, lack of bedtime rules, and short sleep duration), and socio-environmental risk factors (informal child care setting, history of obesity in the mother, and gestational diabetes). The lack of literature on this topic highlights the need for additional research on potentially modifiable risk factors for early-onset severe obesity.

Neglected children with severe obesity have a right to health: Is foster home an alternative?-A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore key person's perspectives of foster home placement or notification of risk of harm to Social Services of children with severe obesity. METHODS: This case study research was performed in the southwest of Sweden and based on interviews with nine informants: a foster home youth, two foster parents, a social worker, two hospital social workers, a pediatric physician, a pediatric nurse, and a psychologist. Content analysis was used for narrative evaluations, within- and cross case analyses and displays. RESULTS: Positive health outcomes of the foster home placement were described as a healthy and normalized weight status, a physically and socially active life, and an optimistic outlook on the future. The foster parents made no major changes in their family routines, but applied an authoritative parenting style regarding limit setting about sweets and food portions and supporting physical activity. The professionals described children with severe obesity as having suffered parental as well as societal neglect. Their biological parents lacked the ability to undertake necessary lifestyle changes. Neglected investigations into learning disabilities and neuropsychiatric disorders were seen in the school and healthcare sector, and better collaboration with the Social Services after a report of harm might be a potential for future improvements. Rival discourses were underlying the (in) decision regarding foster home placement. CONCLUSION: A child's right to health was a strong discourse for acting when a child was at risk for harm, but parental rights are strong when relocation to a foster home is judged to be necessary.

A Narrative Review of Medical and Genetic Risk Factors among Children Age 5 and Younger with Severe Obesity.

Severe obesity defined as an age- and gender-specific body mass index ≥120% of the 95th percentile in children younger than 5 years is well recognized as a significant challenge for prevention and treatment. This article provides an overview of the prevalence, classification of obesity severity, patterns of weight gain trajectory, medical and genetic risk factors, and comorbid disorders among young children with an emphasis on severe obesity. Studies suggest rapid weight gain trajectory in infancy, maternal smoking, maternal gestational diabetes, and genetic conditions are associated with an increased risk for severe obesity in early childhood. Among populations of young children with severe obesity seeking care, co-morbid conditions such as dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease are present and families report behavioral concerns and developmental delays. Children with severe obesity by age 5 represent a vulnerable population of children at high medical risk and need to be identified early and appropriately managed.

A Conservative Weight Loss Intervention Relieves Bowel Symptoms in Morbidly Obese Subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common in subjects with morbid obesity; the effect of weight loss programs on bowel symptoms is largely unknown. Methods: This prospective cohort study explored bowel symptoms, health scores, and biomarkers in subjects with morbid obesity during a six-month-long conservative weight loss intervention. Bowel symptoms were assessed with IBS-severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) and Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-IBS. Changes in all variables and associations between the changes in bowel symptoms and the other variables were analysed. Results: Eighty-eight subjects (81% females) were included. Body mass index was reduced from 42.0 (3.6) to 38.7 (3.5) (p < 0.001). IBS-SSS was reduced from 116 (104) to 81 (84) (p=0.001). In all, 19 out of 25 variables improved significantly. In subjects with and without IBS at inclusion, the improvement in IBS-SSS was 88 (95% CI 55 to 121) and 10 (95% CI -9 to 29), respectively. Improved bowel symptoms were associated with improved subjective well-being, sense of humour, and vitamin D and negatively associated with reduced body mass index. Conclusion: Body mass index and health scores improved during a conservative weight loss intervention. Subjects with IBS before the intervention had a clinically significant improvement in bowel symptoms.

Effects of multidisciplinary interventions on weight loss and health outcomes in children and adolescents with morbid obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Morbid obesity is the fastest growing subcategory of childhood obesity, associated with an increased health risk that persists into adulthood. There is an urgent need to develop multifaceted interventions that target initial and long-term lifestyle changes. This review investigates the effects of multidisciplinary interventions on weight loss and health outcomes in children and adolescents with morbid obesity. The influence of age, gender and family participation on health outcomes and intensive treatment alternatives are explored. METHODS: The review includes 16 studies conducted between 1995 and 2017. Studies examined youth with morbid obesity, 4-18 years old, undergoing multidisciplinary treatment. RESULTS: All studies found a reduction in body mass index (BMI or z-score) and if measured, cardiovascular risk factors. Physical activity, nutrition education, behavioural modification and family involvement are commonly included treatment components and have improved weight loss and health-related outcomes. However, initial weight loss was often not sustainable, despite the favourable interventional effect on cardiometabolic risk markers. Weight loss was prolonged in younger children and among the male sex. CONCLUSIONS: There is not a 'one-size-fits-all' treatment approach, and matched care to personal needs is preferable. The integration of a chronic care approach is critical for the successful adaption of sustainable health behaviours.

Should Europe follow the US and declare obesity a disease?: a discussion of the so-called utilitarian argument.

In 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) decided to recognize obesity as a disease. One of the main arguments presented in favor of this was broadly 'utilitarian': the disease label would, it was claimed, provide more benefits than harms and thereby serve the general good. Several individuals and groups have argued that this reasoning is just as powerful in the European context. Drawing mainly on a review of relevant social science research, we discuss the validity of this argument. Our conclusion is that in a Western European welfare state, defining obesity as a disease will not on balance serve the general good, and that it is therefore more appropriate to continue to treat obesity as a risk factor. The main reasons presented in favor of this conclusion are: It is debatable whether a disease label would lead to better access to care and preventive measures and provide better legal protection in Europe. Medicalization and overtreatment are possible negative effects of a disease label. There is no evidence to support the claim that declaring obesity a disease would reduce discrimination or stigmatization. In fact, the contrary is more likely, since a disease label would categorically define the obese body as deviant.

Predictors of Retention among African Americans in a Randomized Controlled Trial to Test the Healthy Eating and Active Living in the Spirit (HEALS) Intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Retention of racial/ethnic minority groups into research trials is necessary to fully understand and address health disparities. This study was conducted to identify participants' characteristics associated with retention of African Americans (AAs) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a behavioral intervention. METHODS: Using data from an RCT conducted from 2009 to 2012 among AAs, participant-level factors were examined for associations with retention between three measurement points (ie, baseline, 3-month, and 12-month). Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to compare retained participants to those who were not retained in order to identify important predictors of retention. RESULTS: About 57% of participants (n=238) were retained at 12 months. Baseline characteristics that showed a statistically significant association with retention status were age, marital status, body mass index (BMI), intervention group, enrollment of a partner in the study, and perceived stress score (PSS). Multivariable logistic regression that adjusted for age, BMI, and PSS showed the odds of being retained among participants who enrolled with a partner was 2.95 (95% CI: 1.87-4.65) compared with participants who had no study partner enrolled. The odds of being retained among participants who were obese and morbidly obese were .32 and .27 (95% CI: .14-.74 and .11-.69), respectively, compared with participants who had normal weight. CONCLUSION: Having a partner enrolled in behavioral interventions may improve retention of study participants. Researchers also need to be cognizant of participants' obesity status and potentially target retention efforts toward these individuals.

The Effects of Food Labelling on Postexercise Energy Intake in Sedentary Women.

Food labelling has been previously reported to influence energy intake (EI). Whether food labels influence postexercise EI remains to be determined. We assessed how food labelling and exercise (Ex) interact to influence food perception and postexercise EI. In this randomized crossover design, 14 inactive women participated in 4 experimental conditions: Ex (300 kcal at 70% of VO2peak) and lunch labelled as low in fat (LF), Ex and lunch labelled as high in fat (HF), Rest and LF, and Rest and HF. The lunch was composed of a plate of pasta, yogurt, and oatmeal cookies, which had the same nutritional composition across the 4 experimental conditions. EI at lunch and for the 48-hour period covering the testing day and the following day was assessed. Furthermore, perceived healthiness of the meal and appetite ratings were evaluated. There were no effects of exercise and food labelling on EI. However, meals labelled as LF were perceived as heathier, and this label was associated with higher prospective food consumption. Initial beliefs about food items had a stronger effect on healthiness perception than the different food labels and explain the positive correlation with the amount of food consumed (ρ = 0.34, P < 0.001).