To assess the effect of wearing a custom-fitted, FDA-registered, Class I device, compression garment (Obesinov, S.A.R.L.) by an individual with a BMI ≥ 35 on his/her day-to-day quality of life over a period of one year. Various measures of quality of life will be taken, including assessing an individual's level of pain, mood, self-stigma and comfort with the use of a compression garment. Additionally, to assess the impact of the compression garment on activity, strength, posture and movement of an individual with a BMI ≥35 over the period of one year.
Individuals suffering with obesity often experience daily pain and discomfort which limits movement, a critical factor in managing weight, cardio-metabolic health, mood, sleep, self-esteem and ultimately overall quality of life. Many individuals who experience weight gain have an abdominal or central distribution of weight which affects body mechanics leading to back pain, poor posture, difficulty walking with altered gait, knee, foot, ankle and leg pain (IT band, meralgia paresthetica) and other non-specific chronic pain. Chronic pain impedes mobility often incorporating depression and low motivation in an endless cycle. Furthermore, as individuals are losing weight, they often suffer from excess skin which also aggravates by chafing (arms, inner thighs), hanging down and interfering with gait. The Investigators will examine the effect of wearing a custom-fitted, FDA-registered, Class I device, compression garment (Obesinov, S.A.R.L.) by participants with a BMI ≥ 35 on day-to-day quality of life over a period of one year. Various measures of quality of life will be taken, including assessing the participant's level of pain, mood, self-stigma and comfort with the use of a compression garment. Additional assessments include impact of the compression garment on activity, strength, posture and movement as well as potential impact of the use of this garment on weight loss and change in laboratory measures of metabolic health.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Registered FDA class I device: The FeelWell™ Compression garment is a custom-made orthopedic abdominal binder with full or half-body support. The garments are made of 70% polyamide and 30% elastane and OEKO-TEX certified confirming human-ecological safety of textiles. The company uses a wrap knitting to ensure an optimal compression and durability. The garment has two 360 degrees whalebones in the front and two in the back to provide support for the posture, reinforcing compression on the abdomen and lower-back.
Subjects will work with exercise physiologist and physical therapist to increase mobility, strength and activity
Washington Center for Weight Management and Research, Inc.
Shirlington, Virginia, United States
RECRUITING6- minute walk test- distance walked
6-min walk test is a sub-maximal exercise test measuring the total distance walked by a subject in a period of 6 minutes to assess functional capacity of a subject's cardio-respiratory systems and reflects their ability to perform Activities of Daily Living. Total distance walked will be measured and change recorded from baseline.
Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months
6- minute walk test- Perceived exertion
The Borg Rate of Perceived Exertion scale of 1-10 will be used for the subject to record their exertion level from 1 (no exertion)-10 (maximal exertion) and change will be noted from baseline.
Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months
SF-36 physical component sub-score
SF-36 consists of 8 sub-scales of health-related quality of life measuring various aspects of functioning. The summary score for physical component includes physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain and general health scores. This sub-score is reported on a scale from 0-100 with higher numbers indicating better physical functioning.
Time frame: baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months
30 Second Chair Stand
A test of leg strength and endurance. The number of times a patient stands from a sitting position in 30 seconds is recorded.
Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months
Brief Pain Inventory-Interference sub-score
A measure of pain and the interference of such pain on daily function. A sub-score on a scale of 0 (no interference)- 10 (maximal interference) will be recorded. The mean score of the 7 items will be recorded.
Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months
Steps per day measured by accelerometer
The number of steps per day will be recorded as a measure of daily activity and averaged at various time points throughout the trial.
Time frame: baseline, 6 months and 1 year
Weight Self Stigma questionnaire
A questionnaire designed to explore both internalized self stigma (internalized self-devaluation) and enacted stigma (directly experienced stigma) on function will be administered. The scale is comprised of 12 questions, and the subject responds on a scale from 1-5 with a greater score indicating greater experienced stigma.
Time frame: baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months
Lean body mass
Using DXA (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry), lean body mass (LBM) or fat-free mass will be measured at baseline and at end of study. Percent change will be reported.
Time frame: baseline, 12 months
Fat mass
Using DXA (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry), fat mass will be measured at baseline and at end of study. Percent change will be reported.
Time frame: baseline, 12 months
Bone density
Using DXA (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry), bone density will be measured at baseline and at end of study. Percent change will be reported.
Time frame: baseline, 12 months
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