Obesity Medicine Bank of the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute - Laval University (IUCPQ-ULaval)
This study, run by the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute – Laval University, is looking into obesity and its effects on health. They are creating a special 'bank' of patient information and blood samples. This helps researchers understand why some people develop obesity and related conditions like diabetes or heart disease. The aim is to find better ways to manage obesity, improve quality of life, and develop more effective treatments. By collecting data on things like age, lifestyle, genes, and treatments, they hope to identify what works best for different people and improve healthcare for everyone affected by obesity.
At a glance
What is this study about?
You may have heard the words 'obesity medicine' – this simply means looking at obesity not just as a health condition, but also understanding how things like our environment, lifestyle, and even our genes play a part. Many health issues, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain cancers, are often linked with obesity.
This study is being run by a team of doctors and researchers at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute – Laval University in Canada. They're working to understand obesity better. They're doing this by gathering information and blood samples from patients who are already receiving care for obesity. Think of it like building a useful library or bank of knowledge.
By collecting details like age, gender, medical history, how treatments work, and even genetic information from blood samples, they hope to learn several key things. This includes understanding the full picture of patients living with obesity, finding out what makes some treatments more successful than others, and generally improving how we prevent and treat obesity and its related health problems. This research will help doctors offer more personalised and effective care in the future.
Key takeaways
- This study helps researchers understand obesity and related health problems.
- It involves collecting health information and blood samples from clinic patients.
- The goal is to find better ways to prevent and treat obesity.
- Your participation helps improve future care for people with obesity.
- You don't undergo any extra tests or treatments specifically for this study.
- Your information is kept private and you can leave the study when you wish.
Who may be eligible?
To be considered for this study, you would first need to be a patient at the Bariatric Medicine Clinic at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute – Laval University in Canada.
Additionally, you need to be at least 18 years old and meet one of the following criteria:
You might be suitable if you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more, or if you need to lose weight for an upcoming surgery (like a hernia repair or an operation on your bones or brain). You could also be eligible if you've had weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery) in the past but have regained at least 15% of the weight you lost, or if your medical team feels your weight loss after surgery wasn't enough. Finally, if you've had weight-loss surgery and experienced complications like feeling flushed, low blood sugar, kidney stones, or your previous health conditions have returned, you might also be a good fit.
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.
- Are you 18 years old or older?
- Are you a patient at the Bariatric Medicine Clinic at IUCPQ-ULaval?
- Do you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more, or need to lose weight for surgery?
- Have you had weight-loss surgery and regained a significant amount of weight, or was your weight loss not enough?
- Have you had weight-loss surgery and experienced related health problems?
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part, you would be contributing your existing medical information and blood samples to this research 'bank'. This isn't a treatment trial, so you wouldn't receive any new medication or specific lifestyle programmes through the study itself. The researchers will simply collect data and samples that are already part of your routine care at the clinic. There are no extra visits or assessments specifically for the study beyond your usual appointments. The information collected includes details about your health, treatments you've received, and how your body responds over time. The total duration of your participation would be as long as you are receiving care at the clinic, as they aim to track people over time to understand long-term effects.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de QuébecVerified postcodeQuébec, Canada
Common questions
What is bariatric medicine?
Bariatric medicine is a field of healthcare that focuses on understanding and treating obesity, looking at both physical and lifestyle factors.
What is a biobank?
A biobank is like a safe storage place for medical information, such as your health records, and biological samples, like blood, for research purposes.
Will my personal details be shared?
Your personal details will be kept private. The information collected for research is made anonymous so you cannot be identified.
Do I have to do anything special if I join?
No, you don't. Your participation mainly involves sharing your existing medical data and blood samples that are already part of your usual check-ups at the clinic.
Can I leave the study at any time?
Yes, absolutely. You can decide to stop participating at any point, and your medical care will not be affected.
How to find out more
Audrey St-Laurent, PhD
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
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