An observational study in Obesity, sponsored by University of Alicante. Recruiting at 2 sites in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-21.
Sponsored by University of Alicante · Observational
This prospective observational study evaluates the effect of bariatric surgery on mental health and hair cortisol in patients with morbid obesity over a 3-year follow-up. Assessments will be performed before surgery and at 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years to analyze psychological changes, weight changes, and the need for psychological support.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery on mental health and hair cortisol concentrations in patients with morbid obesity over a 3-year follow-up.
Methods: This is a prospective observational study in candidates for bariatric surgery. Assessments will include sociodemographic data, anthropometric measures, clinical, nutritional and lifestyle variables, hair cortisol concentrations, and psychological variables, including psychopathological symptoms, stress levels, impulsivity, emotional eating, and health-related quality of life. Evaluations will be performed at five time points: preoperative (T0), 1 month (T1), 1 year (T2), 2 years (T3), and 3 years (T4). The study will describe psychological and weight changes after surgery and identify possible needs for psychological support before surgery and during mid- and long-term follow-up.
941 studies on the registry are indexed under Obesity, Morbid; 163 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 70 is below the median of 80 across 311 observational studies indexed under Obesity, Morbid.
Browse Obesity, Morbid studies →University of Alicante is the lead sponsor of 28 studies on the registry; 7 are open to participants now.
Compared within Obesity, Morbid, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Obesity. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
Patients with morbid obesity who are candidates for bariatric surgery and will be treated and followed at the participating hospital/center.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients with severe obesity who are candidates for bariatric surgery.
Global Severity Index (GSI) score of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R)
Change in overall psychological distress assessed using the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R).
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) score
Change in perceived stress assessed using the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Outcome measure: total PSS-14 score.
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
UPPS-P Short Version score
Change in impulsivity assessed using the 20-item UPPS-P Short Version questionnaire. Outcome measure: total UPPS-P score and subscale scores.
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Hair cortisol concentration
Change in hair cortisol concentration measured in hair samples, expressed as pg/mg of hair.
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire II score
Change in health-related quality of life assessed using the Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire II. Outcome measure: total questionnaire score.
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) score
Change in eating disorder symptoms assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Outcome measure: total EDE-Q score.
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ) score
Change in emotional eating assessed using the Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ). Outcome measure: total EEQ score.
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Body weight
Change in body weight measured in kilograms (kg).
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Change in body mass index calculated as weight divided by height squared, expressed in kg/m².
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score
Change in adherence to the Mediterranean diet assessed using the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Outcome measure: total MEDAS score (0-14).
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Sleep quality
Change in self-reported sleep quality assessed using the study-specific questionnaire. Outcome measure: sleep quality score.
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Physical activity
Change in self-reported physical activity assessed using the study-specific questionnaire.
Time frame: Baseline (3 months before surgery), 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bariatric surgery.
Plan to share: No — Individual patient data will not be shared with other researchers. The data will be used solely for the purposes of this study and will be presented in aggregate form, ensuring confidentiality and protecting participants' identities.
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University of Alicante