Kellsey Ly
Evaluation of Bariatric Surgery Results in the Context of Obesity Genetics
Mentor: Juliana Simonetti, MD
Department: Endocrinology/Diabetes Research
Background: The aim of bariatric surgery is to reduce excess weight, but in several observed patient populations, excess weight does not change as expected.1 Increasingly, genetic variants are being evaluated to further understand why some patients gain excess weight, as well as why bariatric surgery does not yield the expected results.
Methods: With the use of electronic medical records and genetic testing data, we developed a database of 300 patients enrolled in the comprehensive weight management program at the University of Utah who received obesity genetic testing, over the last 4 years. The database includes patients’ demographics, medical/surgical history, anti-obesity medications, and genetic results for over 80 obesity-related variants. The initial phase of our analyses focuses on post-bariatric surgery patients who had genetic testing and their response to surgery. Future analyses will evaluate for common genetic markers between those who have had successful weight loss with medical intervention and those who have not. It has been established that African Americans and Hispanic Americans tend to have higher prevalences of obesity when compared to white Americans.2 We also plan to evaluate how these genetic variants vary between racial and ethnic groups, if at all.
Discussion: This research will elucidate the relationship between genetics and obesity, and variations on treatment response. Although our current aim is to evaluate bariatric surgery results, this database will be a useful resource for many other questions regarding weight gain and loss, efficacy of weight loss interventions, and identifying the related genetic components.
Bibliography:
1. Cooper TC, Simmons EB, Webb K, Burns JL, Kushner RF. Trends in Weight Regain Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) Bariatric Surgery. Obesity Surgery. 2015;25(8):1474-1481. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1560-z
2. Petersen R, Pan L, Blanck HM. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Adult Obesity in the United States: CDC’s Tracking to Inform State and Local Action. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2019;16(16). doi:https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd16.180579
