Macarthur Clinical Obesity Research Program (MCORP)
The Macarthur Clinical Obesity Research Program (MCORP) aims to identify the physical and mental health needs, mechanisms and treatment outcomes for excess weight and related comorbidities, in people with class 3 obesity (Body Mass Index of ≥40 kg/m2).
MCORP started as a comprehensive cohort study in the South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation and Bariatric Program (SWS MRBP) at Camden Hospital in 2018, which has been announced as the Winner of the 2024 NSW Health Awards in the category ‘Keeping People Healthy’ for the project - Improving Physical and Mental Health in People Living with Severe Obesity. (opens in a new window) People living with class 3 obesity have complex physical and mental health needs with limited publicly funded programs to support these needs. SWS MRBP is a publicly funded multidisciplinary program that serves people with class 3 obesity living in South Western Sydney and surrounding areas. MCORP now involves multiple partners and collaborators across Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, several schools and institutions within Western Sydney University including the Eating Disorders and Body Image Group (opens in a new window)) and the Diabetes and Islet Biology Group (opens in a new window), as well as other external partners.
Comorbidities are a significant part of living with class 3 obesity. Some of our recent work has studied Type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, liver disease as well as severity of obesity based on the Edmonton Obesity Staging Score. Mental health and eating disorders are increasingly being recognised as a major comorbidity in people living with obesity, and our work has identified significant proportion of those attending the SWS MRBP are at risk of eating disorders and have a poor quality of life.
MCORP has also served as a platform for advanced trainees in Endocrinology or General Medicine as well as higher degree research students and medical student research projects. The work at MCORP would not be possible without the ongoing support of the clinical team at the SWS MRBP at Camden Hospital including the clinical lead Dr Nic Kormas and the Clinical Nurse Consultant Kathy Grudzinskas, as well as admin support from Liz Stellino.
Academic Lead
 | Associate Professor Milan Piya (opens in a new window) Clinical Academic Endocrinologist, School of Medicine and THRI, Western Sydney University Research interests and areas of expertise: Severe obesity, Type 2 diabetes, complications of obesity and diabetes, inpatient diabetes, eating disorders in people with excess weight. |
Researchers
 | Associate Professor Vincent Ho (opens in a new window) Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University Research interests and areas of expertise: Severe obesity, gastrointestinal motility, metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), satiety, obesity and gastrointestinal/hepatology complications. |
 | Dr Nic Kormas (opens in a new window) Senior Staff Specialist Endocrinologist Camden, Campbelltown and Concord Hospitals Research interests and areas of expertise: Severe obesity, Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery, Type 2 diabetes, complications of obesity, inpatient obesity, eating disorders in people with obesity. |
 | Professor Phillipa Hay (opens in a new window) Professor of Mental Health, THRI, School of Medicine Research interests and areas of expertise: What works in treatments of eating disorders, distribution and determinants of eating disorders, integrated care for people with eating disorders and high weight. |
 | Associate Professor Kate McBride (opens in a new window) Associate Professor in Population Health, School of Medicine and THRI, Western Sydney University Research interests and areas of expertise: Severe obesity, healthcare access marginalised populations, lifestyle intervention, obesity and cancer risk, obesity, and cancer screening uptake. |
 | Professor Anand Hardikar (opens in a new window) Professor, Group leader: Diabetes & Islet Biology, School of Medicine and THRI, Western Sydney University Research interests and areas of expertise: Obesity, Epigenetics, Non-coding RNA, Type 1 Diabetes, Biomarkers, machine learning. |
 | Dr Mugdha Joglekar (opens in a new window) Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine Research interests and areas of expertise: ncRNA biology, gut biology, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, type 1 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. |
 | Dr Evan Atlantis (opens in a new window) Senior Lecturer, (Postgraduate Health Sciences), School of Health Sciences, THRI Research interests and areas of expertise: Obesity and related chronic diseases, health services, clinical decision making, epidemiology, systematic reviews and evidence summaries. |
 | Dr Wilson Wong (opens in a new window) Theme lead for data analytics, Diabetes & Islet Biology, THRI, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University Research interests and areas of expertise: long non-coding RNA, small RNA biology, Type 1 diabetes, diabetes and complications, data analytics, bioinformatics, machine learning, synthetic data generation/analysis. |
 | Kathy Grudzinskas Title: Nurse Practitioner Research interests and areas of expertise: Diabetes and metabolic disease, complex obesity, chronic disease, health education and behaviour change, obesity medication, preparation and follow up for weight reduction surgery. |
Students
 | Ritesh Chimoriya PhD awarded 2025, Thesis: ‘Weight management in obesity, type 2 diabetes and liver disease’ |
 | Pamela Acosta Reyes PhD Candidate, Thesis: ‘The relationship between obesity and liver disease in Australia’ |
 | Ghada Alsultany PhD Candidate, Thesis: ‘Exploring and addressing social isolation and loneliness in |
 | Sarah Hirst PhD Candidate, Thesis: ‘Exploring Severe and Complicated Obesity: Lived Experiences and Impacts in the Context of Multidisciplinary Care Models' |
 | Dickson Muthuri Gitonga PhD Candidate, Thesis: ‘Tharawal Holistic Indigenist Metabolic Program: Lessons for acceptability, replicability, and economic feasibility of embedded multidisciplinary specialist metabolic program' |
Advanced Trainees involved in research projects
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Medical Students involved in research projects
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Masters in Psychology Students
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Highlights & Awards
2024 New South Wales Health Awards
Associate Professor Milan Piya and his team at the South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation and Bariatric Program were the winners of the 2024 NSW Health Awards in the ‘Keeping People Healthy’ category, presented by NSW Minister for Health, Hon Ryan Park MP and Secretary, NSW Health, Susan Pearce. Professor Phillipa Hay and Associate Professor Vincent Ho were part of this award-winning team, as were Dr Nic Kormas and Kathy Grudzinskas, supported by many others. The SWSLHD Chief Executive Sonia Marshall as well as the Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals General Manager Grant Isedale were there to cheer the team on!
Further details on the project with a short video can be found here: Improving Physical and Mental Health in People with Severe Obesity. (opens in a new window)
Chat with the Chief Executive of South Western Sydney Local Health District
2024 South Western Sydney Local Health District Quality Awards
Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS), Sydney 2024
The Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) conference was held in Sydney on 16-18 October and Western Sydney University had a strong presence. Associate Professor Milan Piya was the chair of the clinical stream of the conference organising committee and several WSU academics were presenting or supporting their students including Dr Evan Atlantis, Prof Anand Hardikar and A/Prof Kate McBride along with post docs, HDR students, medical students as well as collaborators from the Award Winning South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation and Bariatric Program and from the Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service. We had six oral presentations, over 10 poster presentations and several students were shortlisted as finalists for Early Career Researcher poster awards. We look forward to the ANZOS meeting next October in Perth.Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS), Adelaide 2023
Western Sydney University were well represented at the ANZOS conference in Adelaide in October 2023. Associate Professor Milan Piya was on the conference organising committee, and Dr Evan Atlantis and Dr Catherine Fleming were also there to present their work and support their students including Dr Ritesh Chimoriya (PhD candidate), Dr Pamela Acosta Reyes (PhD student) and Colin Wu (MD Student) as well as team members from the South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation and Bariatric Program at Camden Hospital. We had four oral presentations, seven poster presentations and Dr Ritesh Chimoriya won the Best Early Career Researcher Award for his oral presentation titled Application and diagnostic performance of two-dimensional shear wave elastography and liver fibrosis scores in adults with class 3 obesity. A/Prof Milan Piya also organised the first ‘Advanced Trainee Masterclass in Obesity’ as a satellite symposium supported by ANZOS and A/Prof Samantha Hocking from the National Association of Clinical Obesity Services (NACOS).
Research Outputs
Published Journal Articles:
- Joglekar MV, Wong WKM, Kunte PS, Hardikar HP, Kulkarni RA, Ahmed I, Farr RJ, Pham NHT, Coles M, Kaur S, Maynard CL, Hayward C, Thorat V, Pant A, Akil AA, Donaghue KC, Jenkins AJ, Piya MK, Craig ME, Hague WM, Yajnik CS, Chan JCN, Shapiro AMJ, Davis EA, Jones TW, Gitelman SE, Ma RCW, Pociot F & Hardikar AA on behalf of the PREDICT T1D Study Group. A microRNA-based dynamic risk score for type 1 diabetes. (opens in a new window) Nature Medicine 2025 June 5.
- Foroughi N, Mohsin M, Piya MK, Raman J, Hilbert A, Chimoriya R, Hay P. Mind in Motion: Executive function and health outcomes in a multidisciplinary care program for higher body weight. (opens in a new window) Appetite 2025 Jun 11.
- Chimoriya R, Ho V, Wang ZV, Chang R, Boumelhem BB, Simmons D, Kormas N, Gorrell MD, Piya MK. Application and diagnostic performance of two-dimensional shear wave elastography and liver fibrosis scores in adults with class 3 obesity. (opens in a new window) Nutrients 2024, 16(1), 74.
- Lam A, Piya MK, Foroughi N, Mohsin M, Chimoriya R, Kormas N, Conti J, Hay P. Predictors of Mental Health Outcomes in a Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program for Class 3 Obesity. (opens in a new window) Nutrients 2024, 16(7), 1068.
- Atlantis E, Kormas N, Piya M, Sahebol-Amri M, Williams K, Huang HCC, Bishay R, Chikani V, Girolamo T, Prodan A, Fahey P. Developing a Decision Aid for Clinical Obesity Services in the Real World: the DACOS Nationwide Pilot Study. (opens in a new window) Obesity Surgery 34 (6), 2073-2083.
- Chimoriya R, Naylor J, Mitlehner K, Adie S, Harris I, Bell-Higgs A, Brosnahan N, Piya MK. Remote Delivery of Partial Meal Replacement for Weight Loss in People Awaiting Arthroplasty. (opens in a new window) Journal of Clinical Medicine 13 (11), 3227.
- Yang Y, Conti J, Piya MK, McMaster CM, Hay P. One Sheet Does Not Fit All: The Dietetic Treatment Experiences of Individuals with High Eating Disorder Symptomatology Attending a Metabolic and Bariatric Clinic; an Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study. (opens in a new window) Dietetics 2024, 3(2), 98-113.
- Termaat J, Piya MK, McBride KA. Community-based care needs for adults with Class III obesity before and after tertiary weight management: an exploratory study. (opens in a new window) Obesity Science & Practice 2024; 10(1) e732.
- Kodsi R, Chimoriya R, Medveczky D, Grudzinskas K, Atlantis E, Tahrani AA, Kormas N, Piya MK. Clinical Use of the Edmonton Obesity Staging System for the Assessment of Weight Management Outcomes in People with Class 3 Obesity. (opens in a new window) Nutrients. 2022; 14(5): 967.
- Piya MK, Chimoriya R, Yu W, Grudzinskas K, Myint KP, Skelsey K, Kormas N, Hay P. Improvement in eating disorder risk and psychological health in people with class 3 obesity: Effects of a multidisciplinary weight management program. (opens in a new window) Nutrients. 2021, 13(5): 1425.
- Kobuch S, Tsang F, Chimoriya R, Gossayn D, O'Brien S, Jamal J, Laks L, Tahrani A, Kormas N, Piya MK. Obstructive sleep apnoea and 12-month weight loss in adults with class 3 obesity attending a multidisciplinary weight management program. (opens in a new window) BMC Endocr Disord. 2021; 21(1): 227.
- Chimoriya R, Piya MK, Simmons D, Ahlenstiel G, Ho V. The use of two-dimensional shear wave elastography in people with obesity for the assessment of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (opens in a new window) J Clin Med. 2021; 10(1): 95.
- Thakur A, Sharma D, Gupta B, Kramadhari N, Rajagopal R, Simmons D, Piya MK. Severe obesity in a specialist type 2 diabetes outpatient clinic: An Australian retrospective cohort study. (opens in a new window) BMC Endocr Disord. 2021 Mar 24;21(1):55.
- Medveczky DM, Kodsi R, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Ho V, Kormas N, Piya MK. Class 3 Obesity in a Multidisciplinary Metabolic Weight Management Program: The Effect of Preexisting Type 2 Diabetes on 6-Month Weight Loss. (opens in a new window) J Diabetes Res. 2020 Aug 1;
Published abstracts and conference presentations:
- Raubinger S, Chimoriya R, Acosta-Reyes P, Grudzinskas K, Hay P, Kormas N, Piya M. Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy on Eating Disorder Risk and Psychological Distress in Adults with Class 3 Obesity. Oral presentation at the Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S3.
- Juneja A, McBride K, Tran P, Piya M. Barriers to accessing a public hospital multidisciplinary weight management program for women with class 3 obesity. Oral presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S20.
- Acosta P, Pham NHT, Wong W, Chimoriya R, Hardikar A, Joglekar M*, Piya M*. Circulating microRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in people with class 3 obesity and T2DM. Oral presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S25.
- Wong WKM*, Chimoriya R*, Acosta P, Kunte PS, Hardikar HP, Kormas N, Joglekar M, Piya M*, Hardikar A*. AI-driven approaches to identifying baseline characteristics of weight loss in a multidisciplinary metabolic weight management program for people with Class 3 obesity. Poster presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S58.
- Acosta P, Goldsmith M, Green S, Khawaja J, Kormas N, Piya N. Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness in people with T2DM and class 3 obesity following 12 weeks of supervised group exercise classes. Poster presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S59.
- Toumas M, Chimoriya R, Reyes PA, Grudzinskas K, Sengul L, Kormas N, Piya M. The role of bioelectrical impedance analysis in predicting 12-month weight loss in people with class 3 obesity. Poster presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S49-S50
- Acosta P, Pham HTN, Joglekar M, Ho V, Hardikar A, Piya M. Biomarkers of obesity and liver disease in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Poster presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S59.
- Adapa S, Fahey P, Piya M, Zurga FB, Atlantis E. Impact of clinically significant weight loss on remission of metabolic complications: A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative controlled studies. Poster presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S56.
- Hon J, Fahey P, Ariya M, Piya M, Craven A, Atlantis E. Demographic risk factors for postoperative complications in primary bariatric surgery: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Poster presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney 16-18 October 2024. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 18 (5), S49.
- Toumas M, Chimoriya R, Reyes PA, Grudzinskas K, Sengul L, Kormas N, Piya M. Components of weight loss following 12 months in a metabolic program in people with class 3 obesity with and without Type 2 Diabetes. Poster presentation at the Australasian Diabetes Congress (ADC), Perth, 21-23 August 2024.
- Chimoriya R, Ho V, Wang VZ, Acosta P, Boumelhem B, Chang R, Simmons D, Kormas Nic, Gorrell MD, Piya MK. Application and diagnostic performance of two-dimensional shear wave elastography and liver fibrosis scores in adults with class 3 obesity. Oral Presentation at ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
- Acosta P, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Ho V, Piya MK. Change in liver stiffness at 12 months using two-dimensional shear wave elastography in individuals with class 3 obesity. Oral presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
- Wu C, McBride K, Chimoriya R, Tesoriero C, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Hay P, Piya MK. Class 3 obesity in a multidisciplinary metabolic weight management program: the effect of pre-existing psychological trauma on 12 month outcomes. Oral presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
- Gialouris J, Bueno F, Chimoriya R, Acosta P, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Women with class 3 obesity with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome: Outcomes from a multidisciplinary weight management program. Oral presentation at the ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
- Chimoriya R, Naylor J, Mitlehner K, Adie S, Harris I, Bell-Higgs A, Brosnahan N, and Piya MK. Feasibility of a partial meal replacement weight loss program for people awaiting arthroplasty. ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting- 2023. Adelaide. 18-20 October 2023.
- Cheung AM, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary metabolic program in adults with class 3 obesity with and without type 2 diabetes. Australasian Diabetes Congress (ADC) 2023, 23-25 August 2023.
- Chimoriya R, Ho V, Simmons D, Kormas N, Piya MK. Application of 2D shear wave elastography for screening of NAFLD in people with class 3 obesity. Oral presentation at the International Congress on Obesity, Melbourne. (opens in a new window) 18-22 October 2022. Obesity Reviews 2022, 23(S2): 22.
- Hickey E, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Tesoriero C, Kormas N, Piya MK. Prevalence of anxiety, depression and chronic stress in adults with Class 3 Obesity living in South West Sydney. (opens in a new window) International Congress on Obesity, Melbourne. 18-22 October 2022. Obesity Reviews 2022, 23(S2): 69-70.
- Jiang K, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Exercise levels in adults with class 3 obesity enrolled in a multidisciplinary weight management program. Australian & New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS) Conference, Cairns. 5-7 October 2022.
- Hickey E, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Hay P, Piya MK. Eating disorder risk, psychological distress and quality of life, in adults with class 3 obesity with and without Type 2 diabetes. ADC 2021, 11-13 August 2021.
- Chimoriya R, Hay P, Skelsey K, Myint KP, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Improvement in quality of life, psychological distress and eating disorder risk in people with class 3 obesity in an Australian multidisciplinary weight management program. Oral presentation at the Virtual Austral-Asia Obesity Research Update, 15-16 October 2020.
- Kobuch S, Tsang F, Gossayn D, O’Brien S, Jamal J, Laks L, Kormas N, Piya MK. Obstructive sleep apnoea does not affect weight loss at 12 months in patients with class 3 obesity - a retrospective study from an Australian publicly funded weight management program. The Virtual Austral-Asia Obesity Research Update, 15-16 October 2020.
- Deavin N, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Use of partial meal replacement in class 3 obesity in an Australian public weight management program. The Virtual Austral-Asia Obesity Research Update, 15-16 October 2020.
- Kodsi R, Medveczky D, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Twelve-Month Outcomes in Patients with Class 3 Obesity with and without Type 2 Diabetes in a Public Weight Management Program. Virtual ADC, 11-13 Nov 2020.
- Sharma D, Thakur A, Gupta B, Rajagopal R, Simmons D, Piya MK. Re-audit of Severe Obesity in a Specialist Type 2 Diabetes Clinic. Virtual ADC, 11-13 Nov 2020.
- Skelsey K, Hay P, Medveczky D, Kodsi R, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Myint KP, Tesoriero C, Simmons D, Kormas N, Piya MK. Mental Health and Quality of Life in Severe Obesity in an Australian Public Metabolic Program. Obesity Week, 3-7 Nov 2019, Las Vegas, USA.
- Medveczky D, Kodsi R, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Ho V, Kormas N, Piya MK. Six Month Weight Loss in Patients with Severe Obesity with and without Type 2 Diabetes in a Public Metabolic Program. ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 16-18 Oct 2019, Sydney.
- Thakur A, Kramadhari N, Myint KP, Rajagopal R, Simmons D, Piya MK. Severe Obesity in a Type 2 Diabetes Clinic: A Retrospective Audit of a Public Outpatient Service. ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 16-18 Oct 2019, Sydney.
- Kodsi R, Medveczky D, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Ho V, Kormas N, Piya MK. Edmonton Obesity Staging System Score at Baseline and 6-month Metabolic Outcomes in a Public Metabolic Program. ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 16-18 Oct 2019, Sydney.
- Thakur A, Kramadhari N, Rajagopal R, Simmons D, Piya MK. An Audit of Severe Obesity in a Type 2 Diabetes Public Outpatient Clinic. ADC 21-23 Aug 2019, Sydney.
- Kodsi R, Medveczky D, Skelsey K, Grudzinskas K, Bueno F, Ho V, Kormas N, Piya MK. Effects of Supervised Exercise on Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes with Severe Obesity in a Public Metabolic Program. ADC 21-23 Aug 2019, Sydney.
Select Regional/Local Presentations
- Sengul L, Chimoriya R, Acosta-Reyes P, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in adults with class 3 obesity. Poster presentation at the South Western Sydney Local Health District – Health Beyond Research and Innovation Showcase. 25-26 September 2024.
- Grudzinskas K, Chimoriya R, Kormas N, Piya MK. Weight change observations following pre-admission group education for people with class III obesity attending a metabolic rehabilitation and bariatric program. Camden and Campbelltown Hospital Research Showcase, South Western Sydney Local Health District. 5 September 2023.
- Gialouris J, Chimoriya R, Grudzinskas K, Kormas N, Piya MK. Outcomes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery via the multidisciplinary metabolic program at Camden Hospital. Camden and Campbelltown Hospital Research Showcase, South Western Sydney Local Health District. 5 September 2023.
- Grudzinskas K, Chimoriya R, Chang R, Kormas N, Piya MK. The impact of COVID-19 on a multidisciplinary outpatient weight management program for severe obesity. Macarthur Health and Medical Research Symposium, South Western Sydney Local Health District. 28 April 2022.
- Chang R, Grudzinskas K, Chimoriya R, Kormas N, Piya MK. The role of once weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in weight loss and glycaemic control in patients with class 3 obesity. Macarthur Health and Medical Research Symposium, South Western Sydney Local Health District. 28 April 2022.
- Foroughi N, Mannan H, Piya MK, Chimoriya R, Kormas N, Hay P. Moderators & mediators of outcomes via a psycho-behavioural treatment for relapse prevention & weight-loss maintenance. Mental Health Research Symposium, Western Sydney University. 29 October 2021
MCORP Collaborators
