Using patient-reported outcome measures to assess the effectiveness of social media networking programs for people living with overweight and obesity to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Introduction: Overweight, obesity, and their associated health complications have become a major public health issue. Online approaches have been rarely attempted to address the problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using social media networking for people living with overweight and obesity to adopt a healthier lifestyle with a three-month multidisciplinary healthcare program. Effectiveness was assessed through questionnaires on patient-related outcome measures (PROMs). Materials and methods: Two non-profit associations designed the program delivered to people living with overweight and obesity in a closed group via Facebook, the popular social network. The three-month program had three main axes, namely nutrition, psychology, and physical activity. Anthropomorphic data and sociodemographic profiles were collected. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the intervention using PROM questionnaires for six different domains, i.e., body image, eating behavior, physical, sexual, social, and psychological functioning. Results: Six hundred and twenty persons participated in the program; 567 persons consented for the study, and 145 completed the questionnaires entirely. QoL was significantly improved in five out of six domains, i.e., body image, eating behavior, as well as physical, sexual, and psychological functioning. The improvement was valid regardless of age, gender, initial body mass index, person with or without children, educational level (primary versus secondary versus high school), and occupation (employment compared to unemployment or any kind of social assistance). In multivariate analysis, living as a couple was an independent factor correlated to a positive progression in four domains, i.e., body image, eating behavior, as well as physical, and psychological functioning. Conclusion: This study showed that an online lifestyle intervention might be a promising way of improving the quality of life of people living with overweight or obesity.

Medicolegal Analysis of 81 Malpractice Claims Against Bariatric Surgeons in France.

BACKGROUND: Medicolegal expertise concerning bariatric surgery has greatly evolved, both quantitatively and qualitatively, but unfortunately, the jurisprudence is poor on the subject. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to propose a global and practical approach to medical liability in bariatric surgery. SETTING: University Hospital, France METHODS: This is a retrospective study which deals with an analysis of cases of surgical malpractice litigation between 2009 and 2011. Only the malpractice claims taken to the High Court and the Regional Commission of Reconciliation and Compensation have been taken into account in this study. RESULTS: During this period, there were 426 cases of visceral and digestive surgical malpractice litigation, 81 of which involved bariatric surgery (19%). Fistula was the most common complication leading to a malpractice claim (43.67%). The period of time between the allegations and the procedure was 2 years on average, with a range of 1 to 6 years. There were seven fistulas reported with gastric bypass GB (18.5%) and 31 with sleeve gastrectomy SG (81.5%) leading to malpractice claims. In the majority of cases, only the surgeon was implicated. Sometimes the anaesthetist or the surgical staff were implicated separately or "in solidum" with the surgeon. Every surgical technique was examined. CONCLUSION: Patients do not spontaneously differentiate between recovery from a complication and the result of an alleged error. Attention must be paid to the implications and discourteous remarks. Surgical complications are often unpredictable events and are not synonymous with medical mistakes.

Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone therapy in persistent amenorrheic weight-recovered anorexia nervosa patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare hormonal and clinical responses to GnRH pulsatile treatment in weight-recovered anorexia nervosa patients (Rec-AN) with persistent functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) vs. in patients with secondary and primary HA. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational, ambulatory study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Forty-one women: 19 Rec-AN (body mass index >18.5 kg/m2 without menses recovery), 15 secondary HA without any eating disorders patients (SHA), and 7 primary HA patients (PHA). INTERVENTION(S): Gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatile therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Baseline E2, LH, and P plasma levels and their changes during induction cycles; ovulation, follicular recruitment, and pregnancies. RESULTS: The Rec-AN group displayed higher basal E2 and LH plasma levels after GnRH injection compared with SHA and PHA. Higher E2 and LH levels were observed during induction cycles in Rec-AN compared with SHA and PHA. Follicular recruitment was higher in Rec-AN. The ovulation rate was higher in Rec-AN compared with PHA but similar to SHA. CONCLUSION(S): This study showed increased gonadal status and higher E2 response to pulsatile GnRH therapy in persistent amenorrheic weight-recovered AN compared with HA from other causes. It suggests that their individual set-point of body weight allowing a fully functional gonadal axis is not reached yet. Specific factors of gonadal inertia in Rec-AN still remain unclear.