Marwa Abu El Haija, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Stanford University

Research Description: In the Stanford pediatric weight management program, we are collecting samples and data on patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery to use this data to determine individual factors associated with favorable weight loss. We also have another study that examines the role of plant-based diet on weight loss and serum markers in patients with obesity. We currently writing our data on the profiles of energy expenditure in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. Our team is currently working on surveying physicians taking care of patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery and the use of weight loss surgery. Lastly, we just closed enrollment for the use of Virtual Reality in patients with obesity and working on publishing this work. Relevance to NORC: Dr. Abu El Haija’s research and clinical goals are directly related to NORC in that they directly contribute to the center’s goals of advancing clinical insights and developing innovative interventions in the field of obesity management.