Digestive System Diseases Commons^™

Bone Health And Healthcare Utilization Outcomes In Crohn’S Disease Patients Without Baseline Fracture Or Vitamin D Deficiency Treated With Infliximab Versus Adalimumab: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study, Jashanveer S. Johal, Bianca Patel, Archana Salek, Mahmoud Al-Bataineh, Abdallah Hussein, Om Patel, Jason Hyman, Yecheskel Schneider

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Biologic therapies are central to Crohn's disease (CD) management, yet the comparative effects of infliximab and adalimumab on bone health and healthcare utilization remain poorly characterized in patients without baseline vitamin D deficiency or prior fractures.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX U.S. Collaborative Network. Adult CD patients (≥18 years) initiating infliximab or adalimumab between 2018–2024 were included. Patients with ulcerative colitis, indeterminate colitis, or positive pregnancy tests were excluded. All patients had normal baseline vitamin D (≥20 ng/mL) and no history of pathological fracture. Propensity score matching (1:1) yielded 7,340 patients per cohort. Outcomes …

Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis Due To Hypertriglyceridemia: A Case Report, Samantha Alyse Walkow, Pranaya Gade, Marina Bastawross, Ayesha Ain, Antonios Tsompanidis

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Title: Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis due to Hypertriglyceridemia: A Case Report

Background: Necrotizing pancreatitis is a severe complication of acute pancreatitis with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is an uncommon but increasingly recognized etiology, often associated with more severe disease compared to biliary or alcoholic pancreatitis. Early recognition and targeted management are critical to prevent multiorgan failure.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 39-year-old Hispanic male with a history of chronic hypertriglyceridemia and epilepsy who presented with acute onset of severe epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. Laboratory evaluation revealed markedly elevated serum triglycerides (TG) levels …

Obesity Paradox In Post-Cholecystectomy Outcomes: A Bmi Class–Based Trinetx Analysis At 6 Months And 1 Year, Jashanveer S. Johal, Mahmoud Al-Bataineh, Bianca Patel, Archana Salek, Om Patel, Jason Hyman, Yecheskel Schneider, Abdallah Hussein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Obesity is traditionally associated with higher perioperative risk, yet observational data suggest an "obesity paradox" in which obese patients experience comparable or better outcomes than non-obese peers. We evaluated the impact of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and obesity class on post-cholecystectomy outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX global federated network. Adults undergoing cholecystectomy with BMI < 30 kg/m² were propensity score–matched 1:1 to those with BMI ≥30 kg/m², yielding 81,048 patients per group. Primary outcomes included choledocholithiasis, procedural complications, need for ERCP, and ED/inpatient utilization; secondary outcomes included mortality, respiratory and cardiovascular complications, and upgrade of care. Outcomes were assessed at 6 months and 1 year. A prespecified subgroup analysis compared BMI 30–39 versus BMI ≥40 kg/m² (40,238 per cohort).

Results: Obese patients consistently demonstrated lower rates of major outcomes at both timepoints. At 1 year, BMI < 30 had higher risks of choledocholithiasis (9.1% vs. 8.0%; RR 1.13), procedural complications (3.8% vs. 3.1%; RR 1.22), ERCP (5.4% vs. 4.6%; RR 1.19), and ED/inpatient visits (30.3% vs. 28.8%; RR 1.05; all p< 0.001). Mortality was also higher in non-obese patients at 1 year (1.4% vs. 1.2%; RR 1.20). Within the obese subgroup, BMI 30–39 and BMI ≥40 had broadly similar complication and utilization rates, though 1-year mortality was lowest in class I–II obesity (0.8% vs. 1.0%; RR 0.85).

Conclusions: Obesity was associated with better post-cholecystectomy outcomes compared with BMI < 30 kg/m², supporting an obesity paradox in biliary surgery. BMI alone should not deter cholecystectomy, and perioperative risk stratification should incorporate factors beyond weight class.

Enteral Nutrition Guidelines Improve Critically Ill Patients’ Outcomes: A Quasiexperimental Study, Marwa Abdo, Sara Elsayed Hegazy

Nursing

Background: Optimal nutritional support is a fundamental element of treatment for critically ill patients. Adherence to evidence-based enteral nutrition guidelines is essential to promote patient care and prevent potential complications. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of enteral nutrition guidelines in improving critically ill patients’ outcomes. Method: A quasiexperimental study evaluated 68 critically ill patients divided into 2 groups. The intervention group received their nutrition based on the evidence-based enteral nutrition guidelines, while the control group received their nutrition based on the unit’s routine care. The study was conducted in the surgical intensive care units of Mansoura Emergency Hospital in Egypt. …

Investigating The Role Of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine For Cancer Symptom Management In Older Adults: A Rapid Review, Isabelle C. Karshner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Patients with cancer often experience symptoms related to disease, complications, and treatment. One potential method of alleviating these symptoms is traditional Chinese herbal medications (TCHM). This rapid review explores the role of traditional Chinese herbal medications in treating cancer-related symptoms in older adults.

Purpose: The purpose of this rapid review is to gain and provide a better understanding of the effects of TCHM on cancer-symptom management in the older adult population. This review explores the association between TCHM and effects on cancer symptoms in older adults, including interactions, toxicity, and signs/symptoms of TCHM use that may be useful information …

Effect Of Implementing Safety Nursing Measures For Maintaining Fluid And Electrolyte Balance Among Critically Ill Patients With Acute Pancreatitis, Marwa Abdo

Nursing

Acute pancreatitis is a severe inflammatory condition that affects the pancreas and causes multiple organ failure. High rates of morbidity and mortality are caused by acute pancreatitis. Early fluid resuscitation, within the first 48 hrs., remains the hallmark for acute pancreatitis management. It lowers the incidence of pancreatic necrosis. Therefore, the foundation of treating acute pancreatitis in its early stages is safe fluid resuscitation. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of implementing safety nursing measures for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance among patients. Study design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was …

Epidemiology Of Metabolic Syndrome In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Population-Level Cohort Study From The United States, Aakash Desai, Himsikhar Khataniar, Jana G. Hashash, Priya Sehgal, Francis A. Farraye, Gursimran S. Kochhar

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the United States (US) Collaborative Network (TriNetX) to obtain data for patients with IBD between 2010 and 2023. The primary aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of MetS in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Prevalence was further characterized by age, sex, race, disease location, IBD medications, history of surgery, and IBD phenotype.

RESULTS: Among 100,890 patients with IBD, metabolic syndrome (MetS) affected 34.4% overall (UC 32.4%, CD 34.3%). Prevalence rose sharply …

Combination Of Irreversible Electroporation And Clostridium Novyi-Nt Bacterial Therapy For Colorectal Liver Metastasis, Zigeng Zhang, Guangbo Yu, Qiaoming Hou, Farideh Amirrad, Sha Webster, Surya M. Nauli, Jianhua Yu, Vahid Yaghmai, Aydin Eresen, Zhuoli Zhang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) poses a significant challenge in oncology due to its high incidence and poor prognosis in unresectable cases. Current treatments, including surgical resection, systemic chemotherapy, and liver-directed therapies, often fail to effectively target hypoxic tumor regions, which are inherently more resistant to these interventions. This review examines the potential of a novel therapeutic strategy combining irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation and Clostridium novyi-nontoxic (C. novyi-NT) bacterial therapy. IRE is a non-thermal tumor ablation technique that uses high-voltage electric pulses to create permanent nanopores in cell membranes, leading to cell death while preserving surrounding structures, and …

Intermittent Fasting For Metabolic Syndrome Management, Tony Laborde

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

This paper reviews the potential of intermittent fasting as a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach to the treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS is a global health problem with risk factors that include obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and high triglycerides that predispose to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Traditional treatment approaches, including pharmacological agents and lifestyle modification, are typically of short-term benefit. Intermittent fasting, with its scheduled cycles of eating and fasting, presents another strategy for improving weight control, insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, and blood pressure. Various intermittent fasting regimens, including time-restricted feeding and alternate-day fasting, have …

A Case Of Turmeric-Induced Hepatotoxicity With Hyperferritinemia, Nina R. Spitofsky, Albert A. Huang, Aria Jalalian, Stefanie Gallagher, Scott Fink

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Introduction: We present the first published case of turmeric-associated drug-induced liver injury (DILI) accompanied by significant ferritin elevation. Case Presentation: Our patient, a 59-year-old female with DILI caused by long-term ingestion of oral turmeric supplements, presented with painless jaundice on an annual exam. The patient’s liver function tests exhibited a hepatocellular pattern and hyperferritinemia (>2,000 ng/dL). Additional testing was negative except for heterozygosity for the H63D allele associated with hemochromatosis. A liver biopsy indicated acute hepatitis without fibrosis or stainable iron. Conclusion: Upon discontinuation of the supplement, liver enzymes normalized within a month. This case highlights the potential for …

Preventive Effects Of Quercetin On The Leaky Gut By Suppression Of Il-1beta-Induced Transcription Factors Involved In An Inflammatory Pathway In Colonic Epithelial Cells, Wannaporn Chayalak, Sumpun Thammacharoen, Chatsri Deachapunya, Sutthasinee Poonyachoti

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Flavonol quercetin (Q), found in vegetables and fruits, demonstrates the most potent anti-inflammatory effect. The preventive effect and cellular mechanisms of Q (Q1, Q10, and Q100 µM) on IL-1β induced leaky gut via the signaling molecules of inflammatory pathway, NF-κB p65-iκB/or p38/ERK1/2/MLCK/phospho(p)-MLC were investigated in Caco-2 cells. The cytotoxic effect of Q was initially determined by MTT assay. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and apical-to-basolateral fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (FD-4) flux were used to determine paracellular permeability. The protein expression of signaling molecules was examined by Western blot analysis, and their target MLCK mRNA expression was determined using real-time PCR. All Q …

Clinical Outcomes For Patients With Nafld And Acute Hepatitis: An Analysis Of The National Inpatient Sample, Dakota B. Pastore, Tony Elias, Peter Senatore

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease in the United States and has been found to play a significant role in cardiovascular disease risk through several mechanisms including dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, coagulability, and inflammation. Acute-on-chronic liver disease continues to contribute to worse health outcomes via acute hepatitis.

Methods: This case-control study investigated the relationship between NAFLD and acute hepatitis using data extracted from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database for the years 2019 and 2020. The NIS was searched for hospitalizations of adult patients with acute hepatitis with and without NAFLD. Using …

Severe Dysphagia With Eosinophilic Esophagitis Pattern Of Injury Related To Pembrolizumab Therapy, James S Barnett, Kevin K Yu, Xavier Rivera Rivera, Asmeen Bhatt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

While immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies are effective treatments for many cancers, ICI therapies are associated with immune-related adverse events. We present a 67-year-old man with non-small cell lung carcinoma, who developed severe dysphagia with biopsies from an esophagogastroduodenoscopy showing histopathology consistent with eosinophilic esophagitis while on ICI maintenance therapy with pembrolizumab. The patient's symptoms worsened despite standard therapy. However, he had complete resolution of dysphagia symptoms once pembrolizumab was discontinued. While immune-related adverse events affecting the gastrointestinal system are increasingly recognized, ICI-associated eosinophilic esophagitis is a rare entity.

Advancing School Nursing Practice: A Novel Approach To Screening For Gastrointestinal Disorders In Children, Ashley Bunting, Isabella Cavlan

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Currently, mandated health screenings in California schools are limited to vision, hearing, and scoliosis; this leaves several other body systems unmonitored during the crucial years of childhood development. One such system is the gastrointestinal (GI) system, which plays a vital role in the normal growth, nutrition status, development, and overall health of children. Objective: By developing and implementing a GI-specific screening tool in the outpatient school setting, this research aims to increase the detection of GI disorders in children. Not only that, but school nurses can use this novel screening tool to promote early diagnosis, intervention, and …

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages And Artificially Sweetened Beverages Consumption And The Risk Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver (Nafld) And Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (Nash), Tung Sung Tseng, Wei Ting Lin, Peng Sheng Ting, Chiung Kuei Huang, Po Hung Chen, Gabrielle V. Gonzalez, Hui Yi Lin

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are fast becoming the most common chronic liver disease and are often preventable with healthy dietary habits and weight management. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with obesity and NAFLD. However, the impact of different types of SSBs, including artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), is not clear after controlling for total sugar intake and total caloric intake. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the consumption of different SSBs and the risk of NAFLD and NASH in US adults. The representativeness of 3739 US adults aged ≥20 years …

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Proposed Mechanisms Of Pathophysiology And The Underlying Dysregulation Of Brain-Gut Interaction, Hailey Haddix

Senior Honors Theses

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disease of the gastrointestinal tract affecting approximately 11-21% of people worldwide (Xiao et al., 2021). This research focuses on the dysregulation of gut homeostasis in IBS and explains how the pathophysiology of the gut is controlled by the bidirectional brain-gut axis. The mechanisms of the brain-gut axis consist of neuro-immune cross talk, neuro-hormone cross talk, microbiome-gut signaling, and the HPA-axis. Each of these contribute to one or more of the possible phenotypes of gut pathophysiology, which could include intestinal permeability, visceral hypersensitivity, and motility disturbance (Xiao et al., 2021). Stress is also an important …

A Case Of Acquired Acrodermatitis Enteropathica Associated With Inflammatory Bowel Disease And Amyloidosis, Laura Landis, Mitalie Gupta, Ricardo Estrada, Kathryn Hall, Adam Gomez

Central & West Texas GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Eating Disorders In Men: A Comprehensive Summary, Connor James Spratt, Liam Alexander Mackenzie Myles, Emanuele Maria Merlo

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Eating disorders (EDs) have detrimental effects on an individual’s physical and mental health, along with significant interpersonal, social and economic effects. Furthermore, men who are suffering with an ED face unique challenges with this. Men suffering with EDs have historically received little attention within ED research, diagnosis and intervention. However, the number of men suffering with these issues is significant and growing. Understanding of EDs tend to ignore male experiences, meaning many are left to suffer in silence until the ED has developed to a critical point. However, many now recognize the need to understand the issues facing men suffering …

Evaluation Of Awareness, Knowledge, And Preventive Intervention Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Chinese Young Adults, Yi Du

Theses & Dissertations

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among Chinese young adults (CYA) aged 18-25 years ranges from 4.7% to 15.1% and has kept increasing in recent years. Previous studies reported limited awareness and knowledge of NALFD among middle-aged and older Chinese populations, however, they have not investigated awareness in CYA, for which there is no well-validated questionnaire. There is currently no efficacious educational intervention on NAFLD for CYA.

The objectives were 1) to develop and validate a questionnaire which can be used to assess the awareness and knowledge of NAFLD among CYA; 2) to assess the awareness and knowledge …

Etracellular Vesicles From Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Gg Protect Against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury Through Suppression Of Intestinal Mir 194 And Subsequent Activation Of Fxr In Mice., Mengwei Jiang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Numerous studies have reported the efficacy of probiotics for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). These studies indicate a strong interest among the scientific and medical communities in identifying alternative or adjunctive approaches for ALD, for which there is no effective or widely accepted therapeutic option. However, in-depth molecular knowledge on how probiotics render their effects is lacking. Patients with ALD often have increased hepatic bile acids (BAs), which can be toxic and are an important causative factor in liver injury and hepatocyte death. BAs are released into the intestines and serve not only as a “detergent” to promote fat absorption, but …

Malnutrition And Liver Disease In A Developing Country, Asra Tus Saleha Siddiqui, Om Parkash, Syeda Amrah Hashmi

Section of Gastroenterology

Malnutrition is a highly prevalent and under recognized condition in developing countries of South Asia. The presence of malnutrition causes a severe impact on patients with liver cirrhosis. The etiology of cirrhosis differs in the South Asian region compared to the West, with hepatitis B and C still being the leading causes and the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increasing over time. Comorbid malnutrition worsens outcomes for cirrhosis patients. Urgent attention to address malnutrition is needed to improve patient outcomes. The etiology and pathophysiology of malnutrition in liver diseases is multifactorial, as reduction in liver function affects both macronutrients …

Esophageal Cancer Complicated By A Distal Acquired Esophagopulmonary Fistula, Alexander D. Lake, Yousef Almuzaini, Aaron Jaffe, Joseph Staffetti, Mukesh Patel

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Esophageal respiratory fistulas, commonly found as a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), are abnormal connections between the esophagus and trachea. These can be congenital (infants) or acquired (malignancy). A more rare form of an esophageal respiratory fistula is an abnormal connection between the esophagus and the lung parenchyma—also known as an esophagopulmonary fistula. In our case, we present a middle-aged male with a history of esophageal cancer undergoing chemotherapy and radiation presenting into the intensive care unit for increasing shortness of breath and vomiting after eating found to have a rare form of a TEF causing his symptoms.

The Role Of Nutrition In Promoting Gut Health And Treating Chronic Illness Through The Attenuation Of Inflammation, Allison Dalton

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Over the millennia, the human body and microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, protozoa and parasites have coevolved together forming an intimate relationship. These microorganisms are found on the skin, in the mouth, genitourinary tract and most abundantly in the large intestine of the digestive tract. States of microbial dysbiosis contribute to chronic inflammation, which can lead to the pathogenesis and progression of numerous diseases. Micro- and macro-nutrients as well as dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet can help improve health outcomes.

Influence Of Gut Microbiome On Obesity In Western-Style Dietary Practices Versus Other Diets: A Systematic Review, Keely A. Niemeyer, Doris I. Buezo, Loren Landeros, Karina Corral

OSRI Journal of Student Research and Innovation

BACKGROUND: The human gut is home to a microbiome that has a complex relationship to human health. Like the human genome project, microbiome is catching the attention of researchers who seek new methods to combat obesity and negative health outcomes associated with it.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aims to distinguish the impact of a Western diet on gut health verses a plant-based diet.

DATA SOURCES: EBSCOHost library databases inclusive of CINAHL plus, ScienceDirect, and PubMed using keywords to better understand the correlation of dietary practices and microbiome balance.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY: Criteria that include diet, current research, and scholarly peer reviewed …

Immune And Inflammatory Pathways In Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (Nash). An Update, Sorina Cezara Coste, Ionela Popovici, Andreea Maria Stefan, Iulia Breaban, Adela Sitar Taut, Simina Tarmure Sarlea, Angela Cozma, Dorel Sampelean, Olga Hilda Orasan, Vasile Negrean, Lucia Maria Procopciuc

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), also known as fatty liver disease (FLD), is a major public health problem. It is considered to be the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Chronic inflammation of the liver is an essential key in the progression from simple hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis, the evolutionary stage of fatty liver disease. Moreover, the innate immune system plays a crucial role in the progression of hepatic inflammation. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to elucidate the connections between immune mechanisms, Toll-like receptor cytokine signalling, in order to find new effective treatments. Further studies are necessary to test …

The Pharmabiotic For Phenylketonuria: Development Of A Novel Therapeutic, Chloé Elizabeth Lebegue

Senior Theses

Phenylketonuria, now known as phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency, is a genetic disorder of metabolism affecting approximately one in every 15,000 infants born in the United States. Patients have nonfunctional PAH enzyme secondary to one or more genetic mutations. The enzyme deficit results in destructive supraphysiologic blood phenylalanine levels upon consumption of the essential dietary amino acid phenylalanine. Current standards of care mitigate signs and symptoms of the disorder, but do not approach a cure. The methods for creating a prototype pharmabiotic as an innovative treatment strategy for PAH deficiency are described herein.

DNA molecular cloning techniques were utilized to engineer …

Radical Social Ecology As Deep Pragmatism: A Call To The Abolition Of Systemic Dissonance And The Minimization Of Entropic Chaos, Arielle Brender

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper aims to shed light on the dissonance caused by the superimposition of Dominant Human Systems on Natural Systems. I highlight the synthetic nature of Dominant Human Systems as egoic and linguistic phenomenon manufactured by a mere portion of the human population, which renders them inherently oppressive unto peoples and landscapes whose wisdom were barred from the design process. In pursuing a radical pragmatic approach to mending the simultaneous oppression and destruction of the human being and the earth, I highlight the necessity of minimizing entropic chaos caused by excess energy expenditure, an essential feature of systems that aim …

Studies Of Amino Acid Mutations In Drug Resistance Of The Smo Protein, Eunice Wintona

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Smoothened receptor (SMO) is a protein that in humans, is encoded by the SMO gene. A systemic mutation in its binding pocket helps predict the sensitivity of mutant proteins to different drugs. Known as a GPCR-like receptor, it is a component of the hedgehog signaling pathway; a pathway involved in body patterning and the regulation of adult stem cells. An uncontrolled or inappropriate activation of the Hedgehog pathway drives tumor progression in cancers and a number of birth defects. To achieve these goals, the molecular modeling software MOE was used to build small molecules and drug molecules like Vismodegib and …

Assessing Malnutrition In Liver Disease Patients Being Evaluated For Transplant Using The Nutrition Focused Physical Exam, Madison Hilgendorf

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Patients with liver disease have an increased risk for malnutrition because of side effects of the disease. The Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) was developed for nutrition professionals to aid physicians in a nutrition-based diagnosis of malnutrition. The purpose of this study was to examine the NFPE for its validity in liver disease patients being evaluated for transplant. In addition, the NFPE was used to assess incidence and severity of malnutrition in end stage liver disease patients and compare these results to already developed malnutrition tools such as the Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), Triceps Skinfolds (TSF), Mid-Arm Circumference (MAC), …

A Functional Algorithm For Weight Loss And Obesity Practice: Guide For Clinical Decision-Making For Treating Women, Jennifer A. Tice Williams

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Background

Overweight and obesity have significant impact and consequences on women leading to reduced quality of life, comorbid conditions and premature mortality. Many healthcare providers lack adequate training and the time to properly treat overweight and obesity. Algorithms have been shown to improve clinical knowledge and save time.

Objectives

To develop an algorithm for weight loss assessment and treatment to aid in the clinical decision-making process while improving the quality of care for overweight and obese clients in an efficient manner that can be replicated.

Methods

After an extensive literature review to identify best-practice guidelines for weight loss a …