Biological Sample Repository for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Inclusion Criteria: * Be older than 18 years of age, * Suffer from obesity, defined by BMI≥30 kg/m2 (body mass index: weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters). Exclusion Criteria: * Positive laboratory tests for any of the following pathogens: Hepatitis B virus (HBV); Hepatitis C virus (HCV); Human Immunodeficiency Virus Types 1 and 2 (HIV); Human T-Lymphotropic virus Types I and II (HTLV); Treponema pallidum (syphilis); Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff) * History of gastrointestinal malabsorptive disorders including a known history of celiac disease, and/or chronic pancreatitis, * History of any inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, * Patient is of childbearing age and not practicing effective birth control method, pregnant or lactating * History of a myocardial infarction or cerebro-vascular accident in the last year, or history of unstable cardiovascular disease, * History of cancer or life expectancy of \< 2 yrs, * Use of any medications (prescription or OTC), including herbal or other supplements for treatment of obesity, * History of known hormonal or genetic cause for obesity, * History of any psychiatric disorders including dementia, active psychosis, severe depression requiring \> 2 medications, history of suicide attempts, alcohol or drug abuse within the previous 12 months, * Any condition or major illness that, in the investigator's judgment, places the subject at undue risk of participating in the repository, * Unable to u…