RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Evaluation of the Care Provided to Patients Who Underwent Bariatric Surgery and Were Lost to Follow-up 5 Years After Surgery

After weight-loss surgery, many people need long-term check-ups and support. However, this study found that over half of patients had stopped coming to their appointments five years later. This research wants to understand why this happens and how it affects their health. Researchers will contact people who had weight-loss surgery between 2013 and 2018 at Nancy University Hospital in France and were no longer attending check-ups. They will ask questions about their health and experiences. The goal is to compare them with patients who continued their follow-up care and find ways to provide better support for everyone who has this type of surgery.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Central Hospital, Nancy, France

Enrolment target

176

Start

01 Jun 2025

Estimated completion

10 Oct 2025

Obesity &Amp; Overweight

What is this study about?

When someone has weight-loss surgery, sometimes called bariatric surgery, it can be a very effective way to treat severe obesity. However, it's also a big change for the body. Patients often need to take vitamin and mineral supplements for the rest of their lives and have regular check-ups with their healthcare team. These check-ups are important to make sure they are healthy and getting the right support.

This study, conducted at Nancy University Hospital in France, noticed something important: a lot of people who had weight-loss surgery weren't coming back for their regular check-ups five years later. In fact, more than half of them had stopped altogether. The researchers want to understand why this is happening. Are these patients still healthy? What kind of support do they need? What challenges do they face?

By understanding the experiences of these patients, the study hopes to improve the care that people receive after weight-loss surgery. The aim is to help more patients stay healthy and get the support they need for a long time after their operation.

Key takeaways

Long-term follow-up is very important after weight-loss surgery.
Many patients stop attending check-ups after five years.
This study aims to understand why some patients stop follow-up.
Your experiences could help improve future patient care.
Participation involves a short questionnaire, not medical treatment.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you would have already had weight-loss surgery at Nancy University Hospital in France between 2013 and 2018. You would have been part of a previous study called OBESEPI.

You also need to be aged between 18 and 65 and be covered by a social security healthcare plan. Before taking part, you would receive full information about the study and agree to your information being used.

However, you cannot take part if you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, if you are under legal guardianship, like having someone legally responsible for your decisions, or if you are in prison, you wouldn't be able to join this study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Did you have weight-loss surgery at Nancy University Hospital between 2013 and 2018?
Were you part of the OBESEPI study?
Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Are you not currently pregnant or breastfeeding?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you are asked to take part in this study, your involvement would be very straightforward. You would be asked to complete a questionnaire. This questionnaire would either be sent to you by email or completed over the phone. It's designed to gather information about your health and experiences since your weight-loss surgery.

The time needed to complete this questionnaire is quite short, estimated to be around 30 minutes. You wouldn't need to visit the hospital again specifically for this study. The researchers would collect all the necessary information during that single phone call or through your completed email questionnaire. The entire research period, from starting the study to finishing the analysis, is expected to be about nine months.

Potential risks and benefits

This study does not involve any medical treatments or changes to your care, so there are no direct medical risks. The main benefit is that your experiences could help improve the care and support others receive after weight-loss surgery, making a real difference to future patients. You have the right to decide not to participate at any point without it affecting your past or future medical care.

Locations (2)

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy
Verified postcode
Nancy, France· Enrolling by invitation
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy
Verified postcode
Nancy, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is weight-loss surgery?

Weight-loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, is an operation that helps people who are very overweight lose a lot of weight. It changes how your stomach or digestive system works.

Why is follow-up care important after weight-loss surgery?

Regular check-ups are vital after weight-loss surgery to make sure you're getting enough vitamins, to manage any health issues, and to provide ongoing support for your long-term health.

What does 'lost to follow-up' mean?

It means that a patient who was expected to attend regular check-ups after their surgery stopped coming for their appointments and the healthcare team no longer has up-to-date health information on them.

Will this study change my current medical care?

No, this study is about understanding past experiences and care. It will not involve any changes to your current medical treatment or follow-up plan.

Who is conducting this research?

This research is being carried out by a team at Nancy University Hospital in France.

How to find out more

Claire NOMINE-CRIQUI, MD

c.nomine-criqui@chru-nancy.fr +33632149814 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.