mHealth L.A.B.S is a research project that aims to supply knowledge of the population of individuals who have sought bariatric surgery treatment at West Virginia University.
Introduction
mHealth (mobile health) Life After Bariatric Surgery (L.A.B.S.)
Research on co-morbidities and health issues are widely preformed in the Appalachian region. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control identify that this region is on the “worst” list for various conditions including depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, and specifically overweight and obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥ 30kg/m2). Obesity, and morbid obesity (BMI of ≥ 35 with co-morbidities or ≥ 40 without co-morbidities), has been linked to further exacerbation other conditions leading to morbidity and mortality. The most effective treatment for morbid obesity is bariatric surgery. This type of surgery can be performed various different ways by restricting stomach capacity or absorption of nutrients to promote weight loss. These procedures are performed around 200,000 times annually in the United States which is why studying the health and weight loss outcomes of these individuals is important. However, unfortunately, little work has been done on the population of Appalachian bariatric patients where obesity is at its highest rate.
Aims
The work for mHealth L.A.B.S. aims to first identify nutritional, psychological, and lifestyle behaviors of bariatric surgery patients who have sought treatment at West Virginia University Medicine through a chart audit of patients from October 2013-January 2017. This information analysis will be used to describe this population and aid in the development of a future lifestyle intervention research study specifically designed for these Appalachian individuals and their health professional supports.
Design
Bringing in a multi-disciplinary group of collaborators for a future study will be key to a well-rounded, and accepted, intervention. Researchers at West Virginia University have developed a nutritional and lifestyle tracking application that will aid in tracking a person’s health. The novelty of this application is that patient’s will have personal access to a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) through the application, email, or phone, to discuss their diet and keep them on track. Because the Appalachian population is frequently found in rural locations, access to care like a dietitian, may be hours away from their home. This application will allow patients to keep on-track throughout their journey to bariatric surgery instead only utilizing the current program of nutrition education classes once per month at the WVU Hospital.
This research intends to supply knowledge of the population of bariatric surgery patients, specifically in the Appalachian region. Work being performed through WHU Hospitals will allow for a patient population of surrounding states within the Appalachian region as well as West Virginia. Further utilization of a technology application will allow users to access nutritional care from their homes if they are in rural areas or a large distance away from the bariatric clinic in Morgantown, WV.
Outcomes, Impact, & Future Work
This research intends to supply knowledge of the population of bariatric surgery patients, specifically in the Appalachian region. Work being performed through WHU Hospitals will allow for a patient population of surrounding states within the Appalachian region as well as West Virginia. Further utilization of a technology application will allow users to access nutritional care from their homes if they are in rural areas or a large distance away from the bariatric clinic in Morgantown, WV.
Since mHealth LABS is just getting started we don't have any results to share yet, but please check back soon for progress on this exciting study!
Acknowledgements
This work is being performed by a team of scientists from Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design; WVU School of Medicine's Exercise Physiology program; and WVU Medicine Bariatric Clinic Team.
Publications & Presentations
* denotes Research Assistant Trainees in the Olfert Research Lab
Barr ML*, Tabone L, Cox S, Brode C, Szoka N, Davisson L,
Olfert MD. Psychological Diagnoses and Weight Loss Metrics among Appalachian
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patients.
SOARD
2018.
Barr ML*, Tabone LE, Cox SJ, Brode C, Szoka N, Olfert IM,
Olfert MD. Bariatric Surgery Outcomes in Appalachia influenced
by Surgery Type, Diabetes and Depression.
SOARD
2018.
Barr ML*, Hagedorn RL*,
Olfert MD. Food Access in the Appalachian Region and Obesity:
A Systematic Review.
Journal of Obesity
2018.
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Barr ML*, Tabone L, Szoka N, Brode C, Cox S, Gross T, Wilson B, Davisson L, Olfert MD. Metabolic surgical outcomes in a United States Appalachian Population. Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders. Athens, Greece. May 2018.
Barr M*, Olfert MD, Tabone L, Szoka N, Brode C, Cox S, Davisson L. Describing a United States Appalachian surgery patient population. Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders. Athens, Greece. May 2018.
Barr M*,
Olfert MD, Tabone L, Szoka N, Brode C, Cox S, Olfert IM, Davisson L.
Low food access ranking among West Virginia Appalachian metabolic surgery patients.
Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic
Disorders. Athens, Greece. May
2018.