Impact of the Use of VERT on Body Image After Bariatric Surgery

NCT ID: NCT05460104

Last Updated: 2026-01-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 11 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-03-12
• Study Completion Date: 2026-12-19

Brief Summary

The purpose ot the study is to assess the effectiveness of the use of VERT on improving body image at 12 months in patients who underwent bariatric surgery in the weight stabilization phase (between 18 and 30 months after bariatric) presenting dissatisfaction with their body image compared to standard follow-up in post-bariatric surgery (lack of specific management of body image).

Detailed Description

Virtual reality therapy makes it possible to work on the integration of proprioceptive information via the reproduction of environments close to reality and therefore allow the patient to accept his new identity. This tool is used in an increasing number of indications and in particular in the management of dysmorphophobia in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. In the context of bariatric surgery, only case reports have been published so far. Significant improvements in the body satisfaction scores of patients have been showed, in patients who had undergone bariatric surgery who presented bodily dissatisfaction after 6 weeks of virtual reality. However, larger numbers, longer follow-up periods and more rigorous methodologies are needed to confirm the impact of this practice. The hypothesis of the study is that virtual reality therapy could improve body image in patients who are dissatisfied with their body image after bariatric surgery.

Conditions

Obesity; Bariatric Surgery Candidate

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Expérimental

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy will be realised.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Experimental

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Virtual reality sessions with a psychologist (30 minutes per session) once a week for 10 weeks. Work of the psychologist on a virtual environment created for the protocol in partnership with the company.

Control

Standard care without VRET

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Control

Intervention Type: OTHER

Standard care is medical follow-up, no specific psychological care.

Interventions

Experimental

Virtual reality sessions with a psychologist (30 minutes per session) once a week for 10 weeks. Work of the psychologist on a virtual environment created for the protocol in partnership with the company.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Control

Standard care is medical follow-up, no specific psychological care.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• inclusion criteria: patients who underwent bariatric surgery in the weight stabilization phase (between 18 and 30 months after surgery) presenting dissatisfaction with their body image according to the BSQ (score ≥ 111), to be affiliated to the French social security system. The prior, free and informed consent of the patient shall be obtained.

Exclusion Criteria

• exclusion criteria: patients with disabling nausea (Motion Sickness) from previous use of a virtual reality headset, patients who had from post-bariatric reconstructive surgery, epileptic patients, decompensation of a psychiatric pathology

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University Hospital, Bordeaux

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

CH de Libourne - Hôpital Robert BOULIN

Libourne, , France

CHU de Bordeaux - Hopital Haut-Lévêque

Pessac, , France

Countries

France

Other Identifiers

CHUBX 2021/37

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id