What is the aim of the study?

Being severely overweight (obesity) is associated with an increased health risk. It requires interdisciplinary and individualized therapy. However, treatment options for people with obesity are severely limited in Germany.

The “Leipzig Obesity Management” therapy program for the treatment of severe obesity, which is unique in Germany, is usually a four-year treatment program with an individual combination of nutrition, exercise and behavioural therapy. The CONTENT study evaluates the long-term therapeutic effects of this program. Through the interdisciplinary evaluation of anthropometric, metabolic and psychological data and the subjective assessment of the participants, the holistic effect and its benefits for the participants and the healthcare system will be considered. In addition, genetic and epigenetic analyses in the blood will be used to examine the connection with metabolic changes following conventional lifestyle changes. The aim is to decipher predictive markers for the success of the therapy.

Who can participate?

The following people can participate:

Participants in the “Leipzig Obesity Management” obesity therapy program who have completed at least two years of the conservative therapy branch.

What happens in the study?

The selected individuals are invited to return one and three years after the end of the therapy program.

The following examinations are carried out and data collected:

• Anthropometric data
• Measurement of body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis)
• Blood samples
• Saliva collection
• Recording of comorbidities and medication
• Smell and taste screening
• Measurement of the density of taste buds
• Psychological questionnaires
• Nutrition log, questionnaires on eating behavior, food preferences 
• Questionnaire to record the personal situation and own assessment