Investigating how alcohol reinforcement affects drinking habits after weight loss surgery
Official title: Reinforcement as a Prospective Predictor of Real-time Alcohol Abuse Following Bariatric Surgery
Funded at Sanford Research North · NIH-10705563 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in the urge to drink alcohol can affect people who have had weight loss surgery, and it aims to help understand why some of these patients might drink more after their surgery, so we can find ways to support them better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Research North NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fargo, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $189,246 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AA029145-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10705563 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently undergone bariatric surgery and are experiencing changes in their alcohol consumption patterns.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone bariatric surgery or those who do not consume alcohol may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how changes in the desire for alcohol can lead to increased drinking among patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. By using a combination of real-time assessments and laboratory methods, the study aims to track alcohol consumption patterns in these patients over a period of one to two years post-surgery. The goal is to identify the mechanisms behind the heightened risk of alcohol use disorders in this population, providing insights that could help in developing preventive strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management and prevention of alcohol use disorders in patients after bariatric surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has indicated a correlation between bariatric surgery and increased alcohol consumption, suggesting that this investigation builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanford Research North
Fargo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Engel, Scott G — Sanford Research North
- Study coordinator: Engel, Scott G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How bariatric surgery helps the liver heal by immune cells
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-
Metabolic gut-macteria pathways after bariatric surgery
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-
Comparing medicines and weight-loss surgery for liver disease linked to metabolic problems
This program looks at how two drugs and bariatric surgery work for adults with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and liver fibrosis.
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Decoding how bariatric surgery changes brain signals to help weight loss
A research project looks at how weight-loss surgeries like VSG and RYGB alter brain cell activity related to appetite and metabolism to understand why these procedures work.
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Glucagon's diabetes-related effects after bariatric surgery
This project looks at how glucagon affects blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, comparing people who have had bariatric surgery to those who haven’t.
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BREW ME Model: How bariatric surgery changes alcohol use biology
A study investigates why some people drink more or develop hazardous drinking after bariatric surgery, using biology and behavior to understand the change.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.