Women’s Online Weight and Wellbeing (WOWW) study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Women’s Online Weight and Wellbeing (WOWW) study: Nutrition and wellbeing of women of reproductive age undergoing metabolic surgery: a feasibility study
IRAS ID
269643
Contact name
Isy Douek
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to investigate nutritional and fertility outcomes in women of reproductive age before and after metabolic (weight loss) surgery. Metabolic surgery can result in substantial, long-term weight loss. Significant weight loss in women with severe obesity can improve fertility, but can result in unintended pregnancies and poor fetal outcomes. If pregnancy occurs soon after surgery, during rapid weight loss, nutrient intake may be inadequate. Conversely, surgery can also reduce the risk of pregnancy complications linked with obesity.
Although it is recommended that patients are monitored closely for two years after surgery, there is a lack of information about dietary intake and nutritional status, particularly in women of childbearing age. Research is required to better understand how weight loss surgery affects the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and to improve preconception and antenatal care.
This study will recruit women From Musgrove Park Hospital before surgery and follow them until a year after surgery, monitoring how nutrition, health, wellbeing and fertility change over that time. A control group of women who are attending the weight management clinic (non-surgical clinic) will also be recruited for comparison. Routine data, including weight, medication details and blood micronutrient levels, will be collected from patient records. Information about wellbeing, quality of life and reproductive health will be collected using validated questionnaires online at recruitment into the study and at three further time points. Dietary assessment will be performed using a validated online tool at the same time points. Semi-structured interviews will take place with a subset of participants to collect qualitative information. Together this feasibility and pilot data will form the basis to plan a larger national study.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0300
Date of REC Opinion
27 Sep 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion