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Macarthur Clinical Obesity Research Program (MCORP)

The Macarthur Clinical Obesity Research Program (MCORP) aims to identify the physical and mental health needs, mechanisms and treatment outcomes for excess weight and related comorbidities, in people with class 3 obesity (Body Mass Index of ≥40 kg/m2).

MCORP started as a comprehensive cohort study in the South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation and Bariatric Program (SWS MRBP) at Camden Hospital in 2018. People living with class 3 obesity have complex physical and mental health needs with limited publicly funded programs to support these needs. SWS MRBP is a publicly funded multidisciplinary program that serves people with class 3 obesity living in South Western Sydney and surrounding areas. MCORP now involves multiple partners and collaborators across Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, several schools and institutions within Western Sydney University including the Eating Disorders and Body Image Group (opens in a new window)) and the Islet Biology and Diabetes lab (opens in a new window), as well as other external partners.

Comorbidities are a significant part of living with class 3 obesity. Some of our recent work has studied Type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, liver disease as well as severity of obesity based on the Edmonton Obesity Staging Score. Mental health and eating disorders are increasingly being recognised as a major comorbidity in people living with obesity, and our work has identified significant proportion of those attending the SWS MRBP are at risk of eating disorders and have a poor quality of life.

MCORP has also served as a platform for advanced trainees in Endocrinology or General Medicine as well as higher degree research students and medical student research projects. The work at MCORP would not be possible without the ongoing support of the clinical team at the SWS MRBP at Camden Hospital including the clinical lead Dr Nic Kormas and the Clinical Nurse Consultant Kathy Grudzinskas, as well as admin support from Liz Stellino.

Academic Lead

Milan Piya

Associate Professor Milan Piya (opens in a new window)

Associate Professor in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, School of Medicine and THRI, Western Sydney University
Clinical Academic Endocrinologist, Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals

Research interests and areas of expertise: Severe obesity, Type 2 diabetes, complications of obesity and diabetes, inpatient diabetes, eating disorders in people with excess weight.

Researchers

Vincent Ho

Associate Professor Vincent Ho (opens in a new window)

Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
Clinical Academic Gastroenterologist, Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals

Research interests and areas of expertise: Severe obesity, gastrointestinal motility, metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), satiety, obesity and gastrointestinal/hepatology complications.

Nic Kormas

Dr Nic Kormas (opens in a new window)

Senior Staff Specialist Endocrinologist Camden, Campbelltown and Concord Hospitals
Clinical Lead, South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation and Bariatric Program, Camden Hospital
Head of Endocrinology, Concord Repatriation Hospital

Research interests and areas of expertise: Severe obesity, Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery, Type 2 diabetes, complications of obesity, inpatient obesity, eating disorders in people with obesity.

Phillipa Hay

Professor Phillipa Hay (opens in a new window)

Professor of Mental Health, THRI, School of Medicine

Research interests and areas of expertise: What works in treatments of eating disorders, distribution and determinants of eating disorders, integrated care for people with eating disorders and high weight.

Kate McBride

Associate Professor Kate McBride (opens in a new window)

Associate Professor in Population Health, School of Medicine and THRI, Western Sydney University
President NSW Branch Public Health Association

Research interests and areas of expertise: Severe obesity, healthcare access marginalised populations, lifestyle intervention, obesity and cancer risk, obesity, and cancer screening uptake.

Anand Hardikar

Professor Anand Hardikar (opens in a new window)

Professor, Group leader: Diabetes & Islet Biology, School of Medicine and THRI, Western Sydney University
Visiting Professor: Roskilde University Copenhagen (RUC) and Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC), Vice-President: Islet Society, Sweden

Research interests and areas of expertise: Obesity, Epigenetics, Non-coding RNA, Type 1 Diabetes, Biomarkers, machine learning.
View personal lab webpage (opens in a new window)

Mugdha Joglekar

Dr Mugdha Joglekar (opens in a new window)

Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine

Research interests and areas of expertise: ncRNA biology, gut biology, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, type 1 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

Kathy Grudzinskas

Kathy Grudzinskas

Title: Nurse Practitioner
Clinical Nurse Consultant, South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation and Bariatric Program, Camden Hospital

Research interests and areas of expertise: Diabetes and metabolic disease, complex obesity, chronic disease, health education and behaviour change, obesity medication, preparation and follow up for weight reduction surgery.

Students

Ritesh Chimoriya

Ritesh Chimoriya

PhD Candidate, Thesis: ‘Weight management in obesity, type 2 diabetes and liver disease’

 

Pamela Acosta Reyes

PhD Candidate, Thesis: ‘The relationship between obesity and liver disease in Australia’

 

Ghada Alsultany

PhD Candidate, Thesis: ‘Exploring and addressing social isolation and loneliness in
individuals with clinically severe obesity to improve health outcomes’

 Advanced Trainees involved in research projects
Dr Joshua Gialouris (Advanced Trainee in Endocrinology 2023)
Dr Aiden Cheung (Advanced Trainee in General Medicine 2023)
Dr Ruby Chang (Advanced Trainee in Endocrinology 2022)
Dr Kun Jiang (Advanced Trainee in General Medicine 2022)
Dr Elise Hickey (Advanced Trainee in Endocrinology 2021)
Dr William Yu (Advanced Trainee in Endocrinology 2020)
Dr Fiona Tsang (Advanced Trainee in General Medicine 2020)
Dr Raymond Kodsi (Advanced Trainee in Endocrinology 2019)
Dr Flavia Bueno (Advanced Trainee in Endocrinology 2018)
 Medical Students involved in research projects
Aman Juneja 2024
Patrick Tran 2024
Colin Wu 2022/23
Jillian Termaat 2022/23
Sophia Kobuch 2019
Daniel Gossayn 2019
Sara O'Brien 2019
Javeria Jamal 2019
Arunav Thakur 2019
David Medveczky 2019
 Masters in Psychology Students
Ashley Lam 2023
Mayeesha Azim 2022
Bill Vial 2022

Research Outputs

Published Journal Articles:

  1. Chimoriya R, Ho V, Wang ZV, Chang R, Boumelhem BB, Simmons D, Kormas N, Gorrell MD, Piya MK. Application and diagnostic performance of two-dimensional shear wave elastography and liver fibrosis scores in adults with class 3 obesity. (opens in a new window) Nutrients 2024, 16(1), 74.
  2. Lam A, Piya MK, Foroughi N, Mohsin M, Chimoriya R, Kormas N, Conti J, Hay P. Predictors of Mental Health Outcomes in a Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program for Class 3 Obesity. (opens in a new window) Nutrients 2024, 16(7), 1068.
  3. Yang Y, Conti J, Piya MK, McMaster CM, Hay P. One Sheet Does Not Fit All: The Dietetic Treatment Experiences of Individuals with High Eating Disorder Symptomatology Attending a Metabolic and Bariatric Clinic; an Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study. (opens in a new window) Dietetics 2024, 3(2), 98-113.
  4. Termaat J, Piya MK, McBride KA. Community-based care needs for adults with Class III obesity before and after tertiary weight management: an exploratory study. (opens in a new window) Obesity Science & Practice 2024; 10(1) e732.
  5. Kodsi R, Chimoriya R, Medveczky D, Grudzinskas K, Atlantis E, Tahrani AA, Kormas N, Piya MK. Clinical Use of the Edmonton Obesity Staging System for the Assessment of Weight Management Outcomes in People with Class 3 Obesity. (opens in a new window) Nutrients. 2022; 14(5): 967.
  6. Piya MK, Chimoriya R, Yu W, Grudzinskas K, Myint KP, Skelsey K, Kormas N, Hay P. Improvement in eating disorder risk and psychological health in people with class 3 obesity: Effects of a multidisciplinary weight management program. (opens in a new window) Nutrients. 2021, 13(5): 1425.
  7. Kobuch S, Tsang F, Chimoriya R, Gossayn D, O'Brien S, Jamal J, Laks L, Tahrani A, Kormas N, Piya MK. Obstructive sleep apnoea and 12-month weight loss in adults with class 3 obesity attending a multidisciplinary weight management program. (opens in a new window) BMC Endocr Disord. 2021; 21(1): 227.
  8. Chimoriya R, Piya MK, Simmons D, Ahlenstiel G, Ho V. The use of two-dimensional shear wave elastography in people with obesity for the assessment of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (opens in a new window) J Clin Med. 2021; 10(1): 95.
  9. Thakur A, Sharma D, Gupta B, Kramadhari N, Rajagopal R, Simmons D, Piya MK. Severe obesity in a specialist type 2 diabetes outpatient clinic: An Australian retrospective cohort study. (opens in a new window) BMC Endocr Disord. 2021 Mar 24;21(1):55.
  10. Medveczky DM, Kodsi R, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Ho V, Kormas N, Piya MK. Class 3 Obesity in a Multidisciplinary Metabolic Weight Management Program: The Effect of Preexisting Type 2 Diabetes on 6-Month Weight Loss. (opens in a new window) J Diabetes Res. 2020 Aug 1;

Published abstracts and conference presentations:

  1. Chimoriya R, Ho V, Wang VZ, Acosta P, Boumelhem B, Chang R, Simmons D, Kormas Nic, Gorrell MD, Piya MK. Application and diagnostic performance of two-dimensional shear wave elastography and liver fibrosis scores in adults with class 3 obesity. Oral Presentation at the Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
  2. Acosta P, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Ho V, Piya MK. Change in liver stiffness at 12 months using two-dimensional shear wave elastography in individuals with class 3 obesity. Oral presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
  3. Wu C, McBride K, Chimoriya R, Tesoriero C, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Hay P, Piya MK. Class 3 obesity in a multidisciplinary metabolic weight management program: the effect of pre-existing psychological trauma on 12 month outcomes. Oral presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
  4. Gialouris J, Bueno F, Chimoriya R, Acosta P, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Women with class 3 obesity with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome: Outcomes from a multidisciplinary weight management program. Oral presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
  5. Chimoriya R, Naylor J, Mitlehner K, Adie S, Harris I, Bell-Higgs A, Brosnahan N, and Piya MK.  Feasibility of a partial meal replacement weight loss program for people awaiting arthroplasty. ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting- 2023. Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
  6. Cheung AM, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary metabolic program in adults with class 3 obesity with and without type 2 diabetes. Australasian Diabetes Congress (ADC) 2023, 23-25 August 2023.
  7. Chimoriya R, Ho V, Simmons D, Kormas N, Piya MK. Application of 2D shear wave elastography for screening of NAFLD in people with class 3 obesity. Oral presentation at the International Congress on Obesity, Melbourne. (opens in a new window) 18-22 October 2022. Obesity Reviews 2022, 23(S2): 22.
  8. Hickey E, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Tesoriero C, Kormas N, Piya MK. Prevalence of anxiety, depression and chronic stress in adults with Class 3 Obesity living in South West Sydney. (opens in a new window) International Congress on Obesity, Melbourne. 18-22 October 2022. Obesity Reviews 2022, 23(S2): 69-70.
  9. Jiang K, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Exercise levels in adults with class 3 obesity enrolled in a multidisciplinary weight management program. Australian & New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS) Conference, Cairns. 5-7 October 2022.
  10. Hickey E, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Hay P, Piya MK. Eating disorder risk, psychological distress and quality of life, in adults with class 3 obesity with and without Type 2 diabetes. ADC 2021, 11-13 August 2021.
  11. Chimoriya R, Hay P, Skelsey K, Myint KP, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Improvement in quality of life, psychological distress and eating disorder risk in people with class 3 obesity in an Australian multidisciplinary weight management program. Oral presentation at the Virtual Austral-Asia Obesity Research Update, 15-16 October 2020.
  12. Kobuch S, Tsang F, Gossayn D, O’Brien S, Jamal J, Laks L, Kormas N, Piya MK. Obstructive sleep apnoea does not affect weight loss at 12 months in patients with class 3 obesity - a retrospective study from an Australian publicly funded weight management program. The Virtual Austral-Asia Obesity Research Update, 15-16 October 2020.
  13. Deavin N, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Use of partial meal replacement in class 3 obesity in an Australian public weight management program. The Virtual Austral-Asia Obesity Research Update, 15-16 October 2020.
  14. Kodsi R, Medveczky D, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Twelve-Month Outcomes in Patients with Class 3 Obesity with and without Type 2 Diabetes in a Public Weight Management Program. Virtual ADC, 11-13 Nov 2020.
  15. Sharma D, Thakur A, Gupta B, Rajagopal R, Simmons D, Piya MK. Re-audit of Severe Obesity in a Specialist Type 2 Diabetes Clinic. Virtual ADC, 11-13 Nov 2020.
  16. Skelsey K, Hay P, Medveczky D, Kodsi R, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Myint KP, Tesoriero C, Simmons D, Kormas N, Piya MK. Mental Health and Quality of Life in Severe Obesity in an Australian Public Metabolic Program. Obesity Week, 3-7 Nov 2019, Las Vegas, USA.
  17. Medveczky D, Kodsi R, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Ho V, Kormas N, Piya MK. Six Month Weight Loss in Patients with Severe Obesity with and without Type 2 Diabetes in a Public Metabolic Program. ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 16-18 Oct 2019, Sydney.
  18. Thakur A, Kramadhari N, Myint KP, Rajagopal R, Simmons D, Piya MK. Severe Obesity in a Type 2 Diabetes Clinic: A Retrospective Audit of a Public Outpatient Service. ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 16-18 Oct 2019, Sydney.
  19. Kodsi R, Medveczky D, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Ho V, Kormas N, Piya MK. Edmonton Obesity Staging System Score at Baseline and 6-month Metabolic Outcomes in a Public Metabolic Program. ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 16-18 Oct 2019, Sydney.
  20. Thakur A, Kramadhari N, Rajagopal R, Simmons D, Piya MK. An Audit of Severe Obesity in a Type 2 Diabetes Public Outpatient Clinic. ADC 21-23 Aug 2019, Sydney.
  21. Kodsi R, Medveczky D, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Ho V, Kormas N, Piya MK. Effects of Supervised Exercise on Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes with Severe Obesity in a Public Metabolic Program. ADC 21-23 Aug 2019, Sydney.

Select Regional/Local Presentations

  1. Grudzinskas K, Chimoriya R, Kormas N, Piya MK. Weight change observations following pre-admission group education for people with class III obesity attending a metabolic rehabilitation and bariatric program. Camden and Campbelltown Hospital Research Showcase, South Western Sydney Local Health District. 5 September 2023.
  2. Gialouris J, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Outcomes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery via the multidisciplinary metabolic program at Camden Hospital. Camden and Campbelltown Hospital Research Showcase, South Western Sydney Local Health District. 5 September 2023.
  3. Grudzinskas K, Chimoriya R, Chang R, Kormas N, Piya MK. The impact of COVID-19 on a multidisciplinary outpatient weight management program for severe obesity. Macarthur Health and Medical Research Symposium, South Western Sydney Local Health District. 28 April 2022.
  4. Chang R, Grudzinskas K, Chimoriya R, Kormas N, Piya MK. The role of once weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in weight loss and glycaemic control in patients with class 3 obesity. Macarthur Health and Medical Research Symposium, South Western Sydney Local Health District. 28 April 2022.
  5. Foroughi N, Mannan H, Piya MK, Chimoriya R, Kormas N, Hay P. Moderators & mediators of outcomes via a psycho-behavioural treatment for relapse prevention & weight-loss maintenance. Mental Health Research Symposium, Western Sydney University. 29 October 2021