# Socioecological Factors Associated With Ethnic Disparities In Bariatric Surgery Utilization - DEIA Mentorship Supplement

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · 2022 · $406,558

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a safe and medically effective treatment choice for severe obesity. Yet,
despite (1) an increase in the number of MBS procedures performed in the United States annually, and (2) the
fact that many people express interest in MBS, only about 50% of referred or eligible persons for MBS actually
undergo the procedure. Furthermore, studies have documented Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) are
significantly less likely than non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) to complete MBS despite higher rates of both severe
obesity and obesity-related comorbidities (e.g. type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer). Reasons for the ethnic
group disparities in post-MBS weight loss and comorbidity resolution are largely unknown; therefore, the
following aims are being conducted: AIM 1. Identify the socioecological characteristics associated with the
following four patient-determined MBS groups: (1) early-completers of MBS (< 3 months), (2) later-completers
of MBS (>3 months but within 12-15 months), (3) non-completers of MBS because surgery was electively
cancelled after being scheduled; and (4) non-completers due to no interest in MBS after receiving a medical
referral. AIM 2. Determine how differences in Groups 1 and 2 relate to post-operative weight loss and comorbidity
resolution at 6- 12- and 24-months post- MBS. AIM 3. Explore the mediating and moderating effect of ethnicity,
intrapersonal, interpersonal, clinical, and other environmental interactions on MBS commitment group
differences. For this administrative supplement we are proposing over 1 year to (1) enhance our current parent
study with two additional sub-projects, the first one led by our current postdoc fellow (Dr. Elisa Morales-
Marroquín) titled Role of MBS and Ethnicity on the Relationship Between the Blood and Gut Microbiotas and the
second led by our clinical collaborator (Dr. Jaime Almandoz) titled An In-Depth Exploration of the Impact of
Weight Stigma and Bias on MBS Completion and Post-MBS Weight Loss in Ethnically Diverse Patients, each
with their own set of specific aims; (2) add two additional graduate research assistant training slots from DEIA
backgrounds to assist Drs. Morales Marroquín and Almandoz with their projects; (3) enhance the current
mentoring infrastructure to expand our Summer Scholars Program for undergraduates; and (4) use the parent
R01 as an example of successful team science. These goals will reach trainees at the faculty, postdoc, graduate,
and undergraduate training level and will promote peer-to-peer mentoring through all levels, led by the parent
grant Principal Investigator. In summary, the parent award has produced impactful work to date that is informing
clinical care for MBS patients in post-pandemic recovery efforts. Our parent grant provides an excellent example
of how team, interdisciplinary science, and scientists representing epidemiology, surgery, psychiatry,
endocrinology, and obesity medicine can successfull...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10600383
- **Project number:** 3R01MD011686-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Elizabeth Messiah
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $406,558
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-07-16 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10600383

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10600383, Socioecological Factors Associated With Ethnic Disparities In Bariatric Surgery Utilization - DEIA Mentorship Supplement (3R01MD011686-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10600383. Licensed CC0.

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