My work is focused on the design, coordination and analysis of multi-center cohort studies, Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs). I am currently a multiple Principle Investigator of the data coordinating center (DCC) for the NIH-funded 1) Percutaneous Intervention Versus Observational Trial of Arterial ductus in Lower gestational age infants (PIVOTAL), which will inform best practices in the clinical care of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants, thereby helping reduce chronic lung disease, intestinal injury, brain damage and congestive heart failure, and 2) the ShOrt and NOrmal sleep duration in Insomnia (SO, NO Sleep) Study, which will evaluate sleep phenotype as a predictor of response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trazodone, respectively, for insomnia, thereby informing personalized medicine. I am also a co-investigator of the DCC for a PCORI-funded CER trial of hypothermia versus normothermia for treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (COOL PRIME). My work is regularly published in high-impact journals and reported in the national and international news (see links below).
- NewsNation interview: UPMC Creative Services: USNEWSNATION_07-27-2022_King_AOSO.mp4 (wdrv.it)
- Weight-loss surgery may double chance of marriage (or divorce) - Futurity
- Spouse Getting Weight-Loss Surgery? Your Marriage Might Be in Trouble - Drugs.com MedNews
- Poll Reveals Who's Most Vaccine-Hesitant in America and Why | Health News | US News
- https://www.wesa.fm/health-science-tech/2021-05-03/vaccine-hesitancy-highest-among-jobs-like-construction-and-farming
- Predictors of Satisfaction With RYGB Over Seven Years Identified
- Pitt scientists provide insights into the quality of life of bariatric surgery patients
- Which Behaviors Predict Weight Regain After Roux-en-Y? Researchers Identify Top Factors Leading to More Weight Regain After Surgery
- The Long Game
- Post-Surgery Pounds Can Predict Health Problems
- What Happens After Bariatric Surgery Makes A Big Difference
- Rates of Drug- and Alcohol- Linked Deaths Triple After Weight Loss Surgery
- Alcohol disorder screening tests fail in weight-loss surgery patients
- Popular Weight-loss Surgery Linked to Alcohol Problems
- 1 in 5 Surgical Weight-loss Patients Take Prescription Opioids 7 Years After Surgery
- Gastric Bypass Can Increase Your Risk For Alcoholism
- At 1 Year After Bariatric Surgery, Many Patients Have Less Pain and Better Physical Function
- Weight-Loss Surgery Often Brings Less Painful Joints: Study
- Bariatric Surgery Puts Patients At High Risk For Alcohol Problems
- After Bariatric Surgery, Alcohol Abuse More Likely
- Weight-Loss Surgery and Alcohol Abuse
- Sedentary behavior linked to poor health in adults with severe obesity
- Sedentary Behavior Linked to Poor Cardiometabolic Health in Adults With Severe Obesity
- Obese People Should Reduce Sitting Time To Lower Heart Disease Risk: Other Ways To Improve Cardiovascular Health
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, Leadership Academy for Midcareer and Senior Faculty, 12/2023
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, PhD Epidemiology, 4/2004
University of California, San Diego, CA, BS Biology, 6/1998
EPI 3183 Reading, Analyzing and Interpreting the Medical Literature (Spring 2023)
EPI 2183 Reading, Analyzing and Interpreting the Medical Literature (Summer 2014, 2019-2022)
EPI 2180 Epidemiology Methods 1 (Spring 2016, 2017, 2018)
- Recognized as being in the top 0.1% of obesity scholars (based on publications in PubMed) over the past 10 years by Expertscape Obesity: US Mid-Atlantic - Expertscape.com
- Pitt Public Health Margaret F. Gloninger Service Award (King: 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award for Service (pitt.edu)
- Keynote speaker of the Annual Behavioral Medicine Meeting of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2019
- Initiated into Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society, 2019
- Circle of Excellence Award, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2016
- Integrated Health Research Award, first place, 33rd annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2016
- Top Ten Paper, 33rd annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2016
- Top Ten Paper, 32nd annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2015.
- Poster of Distinction, 32nd annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2015
- Top Ten Poster, Bariatric Surgery section, annual meeting of The Obesity Society, 2014
- Integrated Health Research Award, first place, 29th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2012
- Integrated Health Research Award, first place, 26th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, 2008
COVID-19
King WC, Rubinstein M, Mejia RJ, Reinhart A. Time trends and factors associated with, and reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: A massive online survey from January-May 2021.PLoS One. 2021 Dec 21; 16(12):e0160731. doi: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0260731. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34932583
King WC, Rubinstein M, Mejia RJ, Reinhart A. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy January-May 2021 among 18-64 years old US adults by employment and occupation. Prev Med Rep 2021 Dec;24:101569. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101569. Epub 2021 Sep 27. PMID: 34603943
Haidar GT, Ayres A, King WC, et al. Pre-Procedural SARS-CoV-2 Testing to Sustain Medically-Needed Healthcare Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective, Observational Study. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2021 Jan 18;8(2):ofab022. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab022. eCollection 2021 Feb.
O’Donnell C, Brownlee K, Martin E, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Control on a Large Urban College Campus Without Mass Testing. Journal of American College Health. 2023 Jan 3;1-9. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2153600. Online ahead of print. PMID: 36595575
Long-term weight loss and weight regain
King WC, Hinerman AS, Courcoulas AP. Weight regain after bariatric surgery: a systematic literature review and comparison across studies using a large reference sample. Surg Obes Relat Dis.2020 Apr 13:S1550-7289(20)30182-9. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2020.03.034. Online ahead of print.
King WC, Belle SH, Hinerman AS, et al. Patient Behaviors and Characteristics Related to Weight Regain After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study. Ann Surg. 2019 Apr 4. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003281. [Epub ahead of print]
King WC, Hinerman AS, Belle SH, et al. Comparison of the performance of common measures of weight regain after bariatric surgery for association with clinical outcomes. JAMA. 2018; 320(15):1560-1569.
Courcoulas AP, King WC, Belle SH, et al. Seven-Year Weight Trajectories and Health Outcomes in the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery Study. JAMA Surgery. 2018; 153(5):427-434.
Ahmed B, King WC, Gourash W, et al. Long-term weight change and health outcomes for sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and matched Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) participants in the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) study. Surgery. 2018; 164(4):774-783.
Kalarchian MA, King WC, Devlin MJ, et al. Mental disorders and weight change in a prospective study of bariatric surgery patients: 7 years of follow-up. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 May;15(5):739-748. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2019.01.008. Epub 2019 Feb 1.
Devlin MJ, King WC, Kalarchian MA, et al. Eating pathology and associations with long-term changes in weight and quality of life in the longitudinal assessment of bariatric surgery study. Int J Eat Disord. 2018 Dec;51(12):1322-1330. doi: 10.1002/eat.22979. Epub 2018 Dec 6.
Physical activity and obesity/bariatric surgery
King WC, Hinerman A, White GE, et al. Associations between physical activity and changes in depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life over 7 years following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: a multicenter prospective cohort study. Ann Surg. 2020. Nov 24. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004652. Online ahead of print
King WC, Hinerman A, White GE, et al. Associations between physical activity and changes in weight over 7 years following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: a multicenter prospective cohort study. Ann Surg. 2020 Sep 1. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000004456. Online ahead of print
King WC, Chen J, Belle SH, et al. Objectively Measured Sedentary Time and Cardiometabolic Health in Adults with Severe Obesity Prior to Bariatric Surgery. Prev Med. 2016 Mar;84:12-8. Epub 2015 Dec 24.
King WC, Chen J, Bond DS, et al. Objective Assessment of Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Bariatric Surgery Patients: Pre- through 3-years Post-surgery. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015 Jun;23(6):1143-50.
Jeffrys RM, Inge TH, Jenkins TM, King WC, et al. Physical Activity Monitoring in Extremely Obese Adolescents from the Teen-LABS Study. J Phys Act Health. 2015 Jan;12(1):132-8.
King WC, Bond DS. The importance of physical activity counseling in bariatric surgery. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2013 Jan; 41(1):26-35.
King WC, Kalarchian MA, Steffen KJ, Wolfe BM, Elder KA, Mitchell JE. Associations between physical activity and mental health among bariatric surgical candidates. J Psychosom Res.74 (2013), pp. 161-169.
King WC, Hsu JY, Belle SH, et al. Pre- to postoperative changes in physical activity: report from the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012 Sep-Oct; 8(5):522-32.
King WC, Engel SG, Elder KA, et al. Walking capacity of bariatric surgery candidates. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012 Jan-Feb; 8(1):48-59.
King WC, Li J, Leishear K, Mitchell JE, et al. Determining activity monitor wear time: an influential decision rule. J Phys Act Health. 2011 May; 8(4):566-80.
Alcohol and substance use and obesity/bariatric surgery
King WC, White GE, Belle SH, et al. Changes in Smoking Behavior Before and After Gastric Bypass: A 7-year Study. Ann Surg. 2020 Feb 20. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003828. Online ahead of print.
White GE, Mair C, Richardson G, Courcoulas AP, King WC. Alcohol use among US adults, by weight status and weight loss attempt, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2011-2014. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.2019 Aug;57(2):220-230. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.03.025.
White GE, Courcoulas AP, King WC. Drug- and alcohol-related mortality risk after bariatric surgery: evidence from a 7-year prospective multicenter cohort study. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 Jul;15(7):1160-1169. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2019.04.007. Epub 2019 Apr 17.
White GE, Richardson GA, Mair C, Courcoulas AP, King WC. Do Associations between Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorder Vary by Weight Status? Results from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019 Apr 29. doi: 10.1111/acer.14071. [Epub ahead of print]
King WC, Chen JY, Belle SH, et al. Use of prescribed opioids before and after bariatric surgery: prospective evidence from a U.S. multicenter cohort study. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2017; 13(8):1337-1346.
King WC, Chen JY, Courcoulas AP, et al. Alcohol and other substance use after bariatric surgery: prospective evidence from a U.S. multicenter cohort study. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2017 Aug;13(8):1392-1402. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2017.03.021. Epub 2017 Mar 31.
King WC, Chen JY, Mitchell JE, et al. Prevalence of alcohol use disorders before and after bariatric surgery. JAMA. 2012; 307(23):2516-25.
Outcomes of bariatric surgery
King WC, Hinerman AS, Subak L. Seven-Year Durability of Improvements in Urinary Incontinence After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy. JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(12):e2246057. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.46057
King WC, Hinerman AS, White GE. A 7-Year Study of the Durability of Improvements in Pain, Physical Function, and Work Productivity After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy. JAMA Network Open. 2022 Sep 1;5(9):e2231593. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31593.
White GE, Courcoulas AP, Broskey NT, Rogan SC, Jeyabalan A, King WC. Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnancy within 7 years after Roux-Y Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery. Obes Surg. 2023 Apr 4. doi: 10.1007/s11695-023-06575-6. Online ahead of print.
King WC, Hinerman AS, White GE. Changes in marital status following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy: a US multicenter prospective cohort study. Ann Surg Open. 2022 Sept; 3(3):e182 doi: 10.1097/AS9.000000000000018.
Hinerman AS, Barinas-Mitchell EJM, El Khoudary SR, Courcoulas AP, Wahed AS, King WC. Change in C-reactive protein over 7 years following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.SOARD.2022 Mar 18;S1550-7289(22)00122-8. Doi:10.1016/j.soard.2022.03.0009.Online ahead of print
Hinerman AS, Barinas-Mitchell EJM, El Khoudary SR, Courcoulas AP, Wahed AS, King WC. Change in predicted 10-year and lifetime cardiovascular disease risk after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Aug;16(8):1011-1021. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2020.04.011. Epub 2020 Apr 19.
King WC, Hinerman A, Kalarchian MA, et al. The impact of childhood trauma on change in depressive symptoms, eating pathology, and weight after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 Jul;15(7):1080-1088. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2019.04.012. Epub 2019 Apr 17
Gordon KH, King WC, White GE, et al. A longitudinal examination of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors among bariatric surgery patients. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2019 Feb;15(2):269-278. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2018.12.001. Epub 2018 Dec 6
Ahmed B, King WC, Gourash W, Belle SH, Hinerman A, Pomp A, Dakin G, Courcoulas AP. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Addressing the Limb Length Myth. Surgery. 2019 Aug 1. pii: S0039-6060(19)30331-9. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2019.05.046. [Epub ahead of print]
Steffen KJ, King WC, White GE, et al. Change in sexual functioning in women and men following bariatric surgery: five year follow-up. JAMA Surgery. 2019 Jun 1;154(6):487-498. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2018.1162.
Menke MN, King WC, White GE, et al. Contraception and Conception after Bariatric Surgery. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Nov;130(5):979-987.
King WC, Chen J, Belle SH, et al. Change in pain and physical function following bariatric surgery for severe obesity. JAMA. 2016 Apr; 315(13):1362-71.
Alfonso-Cristancho R, King WC, Mitchel JE, et al. Longitudinal evaluation of work status and productivity after bariatric surgery. JAMA. 2016. 316(15):1595-1597.
Subak LL, King WC, Belle SH, et al. Urinary incontinence before and after bariatric surgery. JAMA Intern Med 2015 Aug; 175(8):1378-87.
Flum D, Belle S, King WC, et al. Perioperative safety in the longitudinal assessment of bariatric surgery. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jul 30;361(5):445-54.
Data quality assessment
White GE, Courcoulas AP, Richardson GA, Mair C, King WC. Alcohol Use Thresholds for Identifying Alcohol-related Problems Before and Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Ann Surg. 2019 Jun;269(6):1001-1009.
Sterling RK, King WC, Wahed AS, et al. Evaluating Noninvasive Markers to Identify Advanced Fibrosis by Liver Biopsy in HBV/HIV Co-infected Adults. Hepatology. 2019 Jun 20. doi: 10.1002/hep.30825. [Epub ahead of print]
King WC, Belle SH, Courcoulas AP. Considerations When Calculating Data Completeness. JAMA Surgery. 2018; 153(8):782.
Barone Gibbs B, King WC, Davis KK, et al. Objective vs. Self-report Sedentary Behavior in Overweight and Obese Young Adults. J Phys Act Health. 2015 Dec;12(12):1551-7. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2014-0278. Epub 2015 Feb 24.
Jakicic J, King WC, Barone Gibbs B, et al. Objective versus Self-Reported Physical Activity in Overweight and Obese Young Adults .J Phys Act Health. 2015 Jan 19. [Epub ahead of print]
Widen EM, Strain G, King WC, et al. Validity of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for Measuring Changes in Body Water and Percent Fat After Bariatric Surgery. Obes Surg. 2014 Jan 24. [Epub ahead of print]
Christian NJ, King WC, Yanovski SZ, et al. Validity of Self-reported Weights Following Bariatric Surgery. JAMA. 2013 Dec 11;310(22):2454-6.
Khan A, King WC, Patterson EJ, et al. Assessment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults Undergoing Bariatric Surgery in Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2 Study.J Clin Sleep Med2013; 9(1):21–29.
Hepatitis B
Lisker-Melman M, King WC, Ghany MG, et al. Human Immunodeficiency virus coinfection differentially impacts Hepatitis B virus viral markers based on Hepatitis Be Antigen status in patients with suppressed viremia. Journal of Viral Hepatitis. In-press.
Ghany MG, King WC, Hinerman AS, et al. Use of HBV RNA and hepatitis B core-related antigen to predict change in serological status and disease activity in CHB. Hepatology. 2023 Apr 20. doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000413. Online ahead of print
Lisker-Melman M, Wahed AS, Ghany MG, et al. HBV Transcription and Translation Persist Despite Viral Suppression in HBV-HIV Co-Infected Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy. Hepatology. 2023 Feb 1;77(2):594-605. doi: 10.1002/hep.32634. Epub 2022 Jul 21.
King WC, Sterling RK, Hinerman AS, Lok ASK, Cloherty GA, Ghany, M. Hepatitis B RNA and Core-related Antigen Provide Value Beyond DNA in Evaluating e but not Surface Antigen Clearance. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Jul 16;S1542-3565(22)00660-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.06.019. Online ahead of print.
Feld JJ, King WC, Ghany MC, et al. Characteristics of Older Patients with Immunotolerant Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Jul 16;S1542-3565(22)00653-X. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.06.015. Online ahead of print.
Gizaw A, King WC, Hinerman S, et al. A Prospective Study of Renal Function and Bone Turnover in Adults with HBV-HIV Co-infection with High Prevalence of Tenofovir-based Antiretroviral Therapy Use. HIV Medicine.2022 May 16. Doi: 10.111/hiv.13322. Online ahead of print
Chung RT, King WC, Lisker-Melman M. A Prospective Cohort Study of Novel Markers of Hepatitis B Virus Replication in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Dec 29;S1542-3565(21)01362-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.12.038. Online ahead of print.
Sterling RK, King WC, Khalili M, et al. A Prospective Study Evaluating Changes in Histology, Clinical and Virologic Outcomes in HBV-HIV Co-infected Adults in North America. Hepatology. 2021 Mar 20. doi: 10.1002/hep.31823. Online ahead of print.
Ghany M, King WC, Sterling R, et al. Comparison of HBV RNA and Hepatitis B Core-related Antigen with Conventional Markers of HBV Replication among Untreated Adults with Chronic Hepatitis B.Hepatology.2021 Nov;74(5):2395-2409 doi: 10.1002/hep.32018. PMID: 34133774.
Sterling RK, King WC, Khalili M, et al. Non-invasive serum biomarkers of hepatic steatosis in HBV mono-infected and HBV-HIV co-infected adults. Digestive Diseases and Sciences.2001 Feb 8. doi: 10.1007/s10620-021-06860-3. Online ahead of print.
Khalili M, King WC, Kleiner D, et al. Evolution of Fatty Liver Disease and Relationship with Lipoproteins and Clinical Outcomes in Hepatitis B/Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection Clin Infect Dis 2021 Oct 25;ciab764. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab764. Online ahead of print.
Lee W, King WC, Janssen HLA, et al. Predictors of HBeAg Loss among North American Adults and Children with Chronic Hepatitis B. Journal of Viral Hepatitis. 2021Aug 6. doi: 10.1111/jvh.13591. Online ahead of print. PMID: 34355475
Khalili M, King WC, Kleiner D, et al. Fatty Liver Disease in a Prospective North American Cohort of Adults with HIV and Hepatitis B Coinfection. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Sep 1:ciaa1303. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1303. Online ahead of print.
Lee W, King WC, Schwarz KB. et al .Prevalence and Clinical Features of Patients with Concurrent HBsAg and Anti-HBs: Evaluation of the Hepatitis B Research Network Cohort. Journal of Viral Hepatitis.2020 May 4. doi: 10.1111/jvh.13312. Online ahead of print.
Sterling R, King WC et al. Evaluating non-invasive markers to identify advanced fibrosis by liver biopsy in HBV/HIV coinfected adults. Hepatology. 2019 Jun 20. doi: 10.1002/hep.30825. [Epub ahead of print]
Di Bisceglie AM, King WC, Lisker-Melman M, et al. Age, race and viral genotype are associated with the prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen in children and adults with chronic hepatitis B. J Viral Hepat. 2019 Apr 11. doi: 10.1111/jvh.13104. [Epub ahead of print]
Sterling RK, Wahed AS, King WC, et al. Spectrum of Liver Disease in Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Patients Co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Results of the HBV-HIV Cohort Study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019 May; 114(5):746-757. doi: 10.1038/s41395-018-0409-9.
