
Clinical Staging Tools for the Impacts of Obesity on Individuals
Morbid ObesityThis study will assess various published staging tools to assess the health impacts of obesity on individuals. The aim is to identify benefits and drawbacks, and thus help Obesity Centres and GPs better assess obese individuals as well as better identify who benefits most from having weight loss treatment.

Verification of Endotracheal Tube Placement by Ultrasound in the Obese Patient
IntubationIntratracheal1 moreThe purpose of this study is to determine whether verification of correct tube placement after endotracheal intubation in the obese patient can be conducted as fast with ultrasound as with the conventional method of combined auscultation and capnography. The investigators hypothesize that ultrasound is a faster method for verifying correct endotracheal tube placement in the obese patient than combined auscultation and capnography.

Geisinger Education Intervention Study in Obesity Protocol
ObesityOverweight and obesity has become an epidemic which warrants more aggressive treatment. However, few primary care physicians (PCPs) address this issue or do not possess adequate education regarding treatment modalities such as nutrition counseling or bariatric surgery. The primary goal of this study will be to determine whether the referrals for weight management can be influenced through obesity education.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Before and After Gastric Bypass
Gastroesophageal Reflux DiseaseMorbid ObesityThe hypothesis of this study was that gastric bypass (GBP) ameliorates gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in morbidly obese patients.

Very Long Term Results After Laparoscopic Retrocolic Antegastric Gastric Bypass
Clinically Severe ObesityThe main aim of this study is to analyze and report the very long-term outcomes after primary laparoscopic proximal Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery for clinically severe obesity.

Characterisation of Asthma in Obese Subjects
AsthmaObesityOur hypothesis: Obese subjects with a physician's made diagnosis of asthma have a poorer asthma control than asthmatics with normal weight, less variability of peak expiratory flows (PEF) and bronchodilator response,increased induced sputum and systemic markers of inflammation and an increased prevalence of atopy. Obese subjects have an increased incidence of co-morbidities such as rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux and sleep apnea syndrome. This study aims to determine if, in comparison with asthmatics with a normal weight, paired for age and sex, obese subjects with asthma (all not using anti-inflammatory agents) show: A more uncontrolled asthma, increased health care use and poorer quality of life A reduced response to bronchodilators and diurnal variability of expiratory flows More marked airway inflammation and evidences of a systemic inflammatory response An increased prevalence of co-morbidities which can influence the report of respiratory symptoms or the severity of the disease, such as esophageal reflux symptoms, upper airway disease (rhinitis) and sleep apnea syndrome or other sleep disorder.

Impact of Weight Loss Following Bariatric Surgery on Pulmonary Function in Patients With Morbid...
Bariatric SurgeryObesity1 moreIncrease in body mass index (BMI)is associated with a decrease in expiratory flows.Obesity is also associated with an increased prevalence of asthma.Consequences of obesity on respiratory function and on bronchial responsiveness are still to be documented. This study aims to evaluate, before and after surgery, the impact of a bariatric surgery (biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch)on respiratory function in patients with morbid obesity . Our hypothesis is that weight loss following bariatric surgery will induce significant improvements in pulmonary function and airway responsiveness, and, as a consequence, a reduction in respiratory symptoms,these changes being correlated with a reduction in systemic markers of inflammation. Maintenance of weight loss after one year will permit the persistence of these improvements

Study to Determine Incidence of Hypoventilation in Patients Who Have Undergone Gastric Bypass
Morbid ObesityBariatric SurgeryThe purpose of this study is to determine if gastric bypass patients experience hypoventilation in the immediate postoperative period, and to what degree.

TIFACT Study - Tissue Factor Expression by Adipose Tissue in Extremely Obese Subjects.
ObesityTissue factor is the main activator of coagulation cascades. Excessive tissue factor expression is made responsible of thrombosis in a number of clinical situations including thrombosis in contact with atherosclerotic plaques. Recent work showed that tissue factor gene expression in adipose tissue was significantly increased in obese versus lean mice. The main objective of this study is to show that tissue factor expression is increased in human adipose tissue obtained from obese subjects and to identify its main tissular origin by comparing abdominal and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The secondary objectives are to identify the cell origin of tissue factor (adipocytes versus stromal cells) and to analyze the relation ship between blood tissue factor and (i) tissue factor expressed by adipose tissue, (ii) the amount of subcutaneous and profound adipose tissue, and (iii) coagulation activation markers.

Pre-meal Planning and Expected Satiety
AdiposityObesity is considered to be caused by an imbalance between energy expenditure and energy intake. A major determinant of our daily energy intake is the size of the meals that we consume. It has been suggested that decisions about portion sizes are often made in advance, before a meal begins. This pre-meal planning is considered to especially depend on the estimated 'expected satiety' and 'expected satiation' of different foods. Further, also factors like weight concern and palatability of the food might have their influence on meal size selection. In general, it is not clear how these factors are integrated during pre-meal planning and which brain networks are involved in these decisions/this process. Thus, the investigators plan to study pre-meal planning in healthy, normal-weight and overweight/obese individuals with functional magnetic resonance imaging under different cognitive instructions including pleasure, expected satiety and self-control in terms of health consequences. The investigators will explore the neural networks involved in pre-meal planning and expect them to be modulated by the before mentioned factors. Further, the investigators plan to explore gender differences and expect that female subjects will select smaller portion sizes especially in the self-control condition as they are often more concerned about their weight/health. Finally, the investigators will explore differences between lean and overweight subjects to elucidate factors that might lead to increased meal sizes in overweight subjects.