Gro Walø-Syversen is a clinical psychologist specialized in treatment of addiction disorders. She is currently a PhD-candidate at RASP working with the Oslo Bariatric Surgery Study (OBSS) Cognitive. The OBSSC is a collaboration between the Regional Department for Eating Disorders (RASP) and the Centre for Morbid Obesity (Aker).

Ongoing research

Bariatric surgery is a main treatment option for severe obesity that leads to substantial weight loss and improvement in obesity-related diseases; however a substantial proportion of patients struggle with maintaining their initial weight loss over time. The sustainability of the weight loss requires a permanent life style change, otherwise there is a significant risk of postoperative weight regain. A growing literature indicates that both pre-and postoperative neuropsychological functioning predicts long-term weight loss after surgery. Also, some studies suggest that surgery is followed by improved neuropsychological functioning. Overall, this project aims to investigate neuropsychological functioning in relation to weight loss after bariatric surgery, in an observational two-year follow-up study. Ultimately, we hope the project will provide some insight into the role of cognitive function in postoperative weight loss outcomes, and that these insights can be used to increase attention to individuals that might be in need for extended postoperative support.

Publications

Walø-Syversen G. (2020), Ruslidelser og spiseforstyrrelser. I (Ø. Rø, T. Wiig Hage & V. Wie Torsteinsson), Spiseforstyrrelser: Forståelse og Behandling. En håndbok. (s. 291-295). Bergen: Fagbokforlaget. 

Walø-Syversen G, Kvalem IL, Kristinsson J, Eribe IL, Rø Ø, Dahlgren CL (2019)
Executive Function, Eating Behavior, and Preoperative Weight Loss in Bariatric Surgery Candidates: An Observational Study. Obes Facts, 12 (5), 489-501
DOI 10.1159/000502118, PubMed 31505516

Reas DL, Lindvall Dahlgren C, Wonderlich J, Syversen G, Lundin Kvalem I (2018)
Confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Repetitive Eating Questionnaire: Further evidence for two distinct subtypes of grazing behavior.Eur Eat Disord Rev, 27 (2), 205-211
DOI 10.1002/erv.2631, PubMed 30073739