NCT07368842

Scalp Hair Metabolomics in Severe Obesity

Scalp Hair Metabolomics as a Novel Biomarker of Poor Metabolic Health in Individuals With Severe Obesity

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Singapore General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to investigate how body weight and weight-loss surgery affect the natural chemicals found in scalp hair over time. We will also find out how common and severe hair thinning/hair loss and muscle loss are in the first 6 months after bariatric surgery.

Detailed description

The investigators will recruit 30 subjects with severe obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery and 30 healthy-weight controls. Following written informed consent, the investigators will collect the study subject's medical information, conduct a dietary and quality-of-life survey, take body measurements, obtain scalp photos, perform a hair-pull test, collect a hair sample, and conduct muscle strength testing. Controls will be assessed only at baseline. Those with severe obesity will return at 4 ± 2 weeks, 12 ± 4 weeks, and 26 ± 4 weeks following bariatric surgery to repeat the study procedures.

Conditions

• Obesity & Overweight
• Hair Loss
• Metabolomics
• Bariatric Surgery

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-02-07
• Primary completion: 2028-02-01
• Completion: 2028-02-01
• First posted: 2026-01-27
• Last updated: 2026-02-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Singapore