Miriam to share $1.3M grant to study post-bariatric surgery patients

The Miriam Hospital of Providence, above, and Beth Deaconess Medical Center in Boston were recently awarded a $1.3 million grant to study why some patients keep weight off better than others following bariatric surgery.
The Miriam Hospital of Providence, above, and Beth Deaconess Medical Center in Boston were recently awarded a $1.3 million grant to study why some patients keep weight off better than others following bariatric surgery.

PROVIDENCE – The Miriam Hospital and Beth Deaconess Medical Center in Boston were recently awarded a $1.3 million grant to study why some patients keep weight off better than others following bariatric surgery.

Researchers will use monitoring technology to evaluate behavioral, social and environmental predictors of weight loss after bariatric surgery.

“Very little is known about why some people are more successful than others at keeping weight off after having bariatric surgery,” said Dale Bond, lead researcher for the study at The Miriam Hospital. “Behavioral factors are thought to be very influential, but guidelines for behavior changes among bariatric surgery patients are often vague and not well-supported by scientific research. Our goal is to collect data to improve behavioral guidelines and help increase weight loss after bariatric surgery.”

Wrist sensors and smart phones will be used to measure eating, physical activity, behavior, mood, hunger and cravings among about 100 bariatric surgery patients at Miriam and Beth Israel Deaconess, starting in early 2016.

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“The study is exciting because this could lead to improved behavioral guidelines and new behavioral treatments, strategies and tools to maximize weight loss after bariatric surgery,” said Graham Thomas, also a lead researcher on the study at The Miriam Hospital.

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