Overview
The purpose of this research study is to investigate how body weight and weight-loss surgery affect the natural chemicals found in scalp hair over time. We will also find out how common and severe hair thinning/hair loss and muscle loss are in the first 6 months after bariatric surgery.
Description
The investigators will recruit 30 subjects with severe obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery and 30 healthy-weight controls.
Following written informed consent, the investigators will collect the study subject's medical information, conduct a dietary and quality-of-life survey, take body measurements, obtain scalp photos, perform a hair-pull test, collect a hair sample, and conduct muscle strength testing. Controls will be assessed only at baseline. Those with severe obesity will return at 4 ± 2 weeks, 12 ± 4 weeks, and 26 ± 4 weeks following bariatric surgery to repeat the study procedures.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
All subjects:
- Age 21-70 years
- Ability to provide informed consent
Healthy weight controls:
- BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2
- No chronic disease
- No long-term medications
Severe obesity:
- BMI of \> 32.5 kg/m2
- Scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnancy
- Any factors likely to limit adherence to study protocol
- Any history of autoimmune or scarring alopecia (eg. alopecia areata, discoid lupus, lichen planopilaris)
