
Evaluating the Link Between Neighborhood Environments and Obesity Among African American Women
ObesityAfrican American women have higher rates of obesity than women of any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. Obesity can have many causes, including genetic and environmental factors. This study will examine how neighborhood environments influence the occurrence of obesity among African American women.

Childhood Obesity: Variations in Management
ObesityChildhood obesity has been described as a growing national epidemic. Between 1980 and 1994 the prevalence of childhood obesity doubled with 10% to 15% of children and adolescents being obese. Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term detrimental consequences for health and well-being. Obese children are at increased risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Obese children are more likely to be at risk for psychological stress and disturbed body image. Moreover, obese children are more likely to become obese adults, especially if weight reduction has not occurred by the end of adolescence. The pediatrician is in an ideal position to assess and manage childhood obesity. Recently, guidelines have been established for the assessment and treatment of childhood obesity. These "best practice" guidelines include recommended diagnostic criteria, assessment of contributing factors such as diet and lifestyle, family history, and treatment choices. Although these guidelines have been introduced little is known about pediatricians' actual practice patterns and their beliefs concerning childhood obesity. Project Description I plan to conduct a national survey of pediatricians to assess common strategies for the identification and management of childhood obesity, along with pediatricians' attitudes and beliefs about childhood obesity. In consultation with a panel of practicing general pediatricians and survey research experts, I plan to develop a survey that measures pediatricians' beliefs about the causes and consequences of childhood obesity, its prevalence in their practice settings, their approaches to diagnosis and management, and resources available for treatment. The survey will be administered to a randomly selected national sample of approximately 600 practicing general pediatricians. The response rate is expected to be approximately 60% or 360 pediatricians. The survey results will help to assess the degree to which recommended practice guidelines are being implemented, identify pediatricians' beliefs and attitudes that might serve as barriers to optimal care, and suggest areas for continuing medical education. The proposed time frame for the study is two years.

Tundra Gifts: Harvesting Local And Regional Resources To Prevent Obesity Among Alaska Native Children...
Childhood ObesityThe long-term goal of this community based participatory research project is to prevent obesity in 3-5 year old Alaska Native children in remote communities. Investigators will design and evaluate a culturally responsive, home-focused intervention, Tundra Gifts, that links early childhood education programming (i.e. Head Start) and federal food assistance programs (i.e. WIC and SNAP) with primary caregivers to support healthy eating and an active lifestyle using a cluster-randomized design. The intervention integrates behavior change theory with Indigenous traditional knowledge. Primary caregivers will attend monthly interactive education session, receive a monthly gift basket that includes resources and supplies to support behavior change at home and receive ongoing social support through a Facebook site. Investigators will also evaluate key process indicators of Tundra Gifts to understand the impact on outcomes of variations in persons and settings and to enhance the generalizability of findings.

Impact of Bariatric Surgery in Patients With Morbid Obesity
ObesityMorbid3 moreThe main objective is to compare the prevalence of anal incontinence (AI) before and after bariatric surgery in obese patients. Inclusion: Patients who are scheduled for a bariatric surgical procedure after a multidisciplinary evaluation for about 1 year (following french national recommendations). Primary objective: After inclusion, all patients will fill in a specific self-questionnaire evaluating AI (PFDI-20 score) before surgery and at 6 months after surgery. Investigators will evaluate the prevalence of anal incontinence before and at 6months after surgery using this PFDI- 20 score. In those patients with preoperative anal incontinence (only in patients with 3 positive answers to question n°9,10, and 11 of PFDI-20 score self-questionnaire), a pelvic MRI will be performed before and at 6 months after surgery. Consequently, no further imaging exam will be performed in patients without preoperative anal incontinence (less than 3 positive answers to question n°9,10, and 11), Secondary objectives: to evaluate the AI severity variation before and at 6 months after bariatric surgery regarding the percentage of postoperative weight loss. to compare the quality of life (PFIQ-7 score) related to AI day before and at 6 months after bariatric surgery.

Mechanisms of Inflammation, Immunity, Islet Cell and Intestinal Hormone Changes in Youth at Risk...
ObesityPreDiabetes8 moreThis study intends to assess the role of inflammation in insulin resistant conditions (i.e., obesity and pre-diabetes) and the subsequent development of disease, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), in the adolescent population.

The Effect of Obesity on Pregnancy and Fetal Outcome in Glucose Tolerant Mothers
ObesityThe participants are divided into subjects or controls based on the BMI taken during the first trimester of pregnancy upon recruitment. Participants with a BMI of ≥23kg/m2 were recruited as subjects (labelled as obese group) and those with BMI of 18.5-23kg/m2 were recruited as controls. Total gestational weight gain was calculated based on the difference between third trimester weight and first trimester weight. All participants who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited after informed consent. Demographic data of all participants were recorded. At first trimester, the participants' weight and height were recorded for calculation of BMI. At every trimester visit, the following were recorded: i) blood pressure using sphygmomanometer after 15 minutes of rest ii) mid-stream urine for presence of proteinuria iii) weight. The participants were followed up until the point of delivery. Occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcome, fetal outcome, and birth weight were documented. The pregnancy outcomes measured in this study included the need of primary caesarian section, the occurrence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), pre-eclampsia, and gestational age at delivery. The neonatal outcomes measured in this study included neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, stillbirth, preterm delivery, occurrence of macrosomia and low birth weight, and neonatal birth weight.

Pregnant Obese Women and Fetal Ultrasound Quality.
Obese WomenPregnant WomenUltrasound (US) image construction uses equations that contain the value of the propagation velocity of sound waves; this velocity is assumed conventionally to be constant and equal to 1540 m/s in the human body. Since 1977, all manufacturers of US scanners have used this value, which was first established in 1950. In fatty tissue, however, the actual propagation velocity is only in the order of 1450 m/s. US velocity in fat tissue is slower than in other soft tissues (ie:1450 m/s vs 1540 m/s) therefore the intrinsic image quality in terms of sharpness and precision is improved when considering this parameter for image construction The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of ultrasound propagation velocity setting on completeness of ultrasound exams and images quality during the second and third trimester fetal ultrasound examination in obese patients.

Obesity and Mortality of Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19
COVIDSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome2 moreDisproportionate impact of COVID-19 in patients with obesity is now well established. Obesity is associated with severe forms of COVID-19 and may be a risk factor of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Obesity is associated with COVID-19 related hospital death in a large United Kingdom cohort study. However, there is a gap of knowledge on assessment of outcomes such as severity of Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome (ARDS), duration of hospitalisation and mortality in ICU. Moreover, an obesity survival paradox has been observed in patients with ARDS. This raises the question whether the obesity paradox has been broken by COVID-19. The investigators aim to explore risk factors of in-ICU death for patient with COVID-19, including obesity and other chronic diseases and to describe the clinical course and outcomes, including the management of acute respiratory failure and other intensive care management.

Sarcopenic Obesity in Neurodisabilities
Sarcopenic ObesitySpinal Cord Injuries3 moreTo describe the frequency and thresholds for sarcopenic obesity in neurodisabled persons and the fat and lean mass distribution based on various neurodisabilities

Establishment of the Human Intestinal and Salivary Microbiota Biobank - Obesity
Morbid ObesityMetabolically Healthy ObesityThis is a prospective, clinical, multicentre study aimed to collect biological samples and study microbiota from subjects with morbid obesity, metabolically healthy obesity and from healthy volunteers. Microbiota is a complex consortium of microorganisms, located at the mucosal level (in particular intestinal, oral and vaginal) having a key role in human health and in the onset of several diseases. Microbiota alterations have been found in several diseases (gastrointestinal, metabolic, renal, oncological, gynaecological) The study will allow to: Provide biological samples (faeces, saliva, blood, urine) from healthy volunteers and patients to the first Italian microbiota biobank; Study microorganisms using different in vitro and in vivo techniques; Study the link between the microbiota and the disease. This study is part of the BIOMIS project (Project Code: ARS01_01220), presented as part of the "Avviso per la presentazione di progetti di ricerca industriale e sviluppo sperimentale nelle 12 aree di specializzazione individuate dal PNR 2015-2020" and admitted to funding under the National Operational Program "Ricerca e Innovazione" 2014-2020 by directorial decree of MIUR - Department for Higher Education and Research - n. 2298 of 12 September 2018. BIOMIS includes several clinical studies that enrol patients with different pathologies to collect and store biological samples and study microbiota.