Ricerc@Sapienza

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and represents a risk factor for Covid-19 infection. Therefore, the continuation of an effective treatment is needed even during this Covid-19 new phase, where the number of infections has decreased, but a vaccine is lacking and a new epidemic is expected. Bariatric surgery represents a gold standard treatment for morbid obesity in favoring a significant weight loss. Although, some patients experience insufficient weight loss after surgery. Previous studies showed that psychological factors may affect post-surgery weight loss and compliance to clinician's recommendation.
This study aims to test the efficacy of an online combined intervention, based on a psychological and nutritional treatment using telemedicine at the time of Covid-19. Telemedicine is strongly encouraged in order to reduce the number of hospital accesses and infections.
The protocol will be tested on 40 patients of the Bariatric Center of Excellence, "Sapienza" University of Rome. All participants included in the study will be randomly assigned to the following group:  1) usual scheduled treatment group (one - to -one sessions) vs 2) combined psychological and nutritional telematic treatment group (online sessions). Both groups will carry out scheduled post-operative sessions at 1, 3, 6 months consisting in monitoring weight, comorbidities trend, nutritional status, and post-surgical complications. The telematic treatment group will carry out an online psychological support and an intensive nutritional counseling.
Both groups will be evaluated 1 week before surgery (T0), and at 1 (T1), at 3 (T2), at 6 months (T3) after surgery. Finally,6 months after the combined psychological and nutritional treatment ending (T4).
We expect a reduction in psychopathological symptomatology, the achievement of a sufficient weight loss, higher compliance, psychological well being and quality of life in the combined psychological and nutritional telematic treatment group.