Obesity Clinical Trials

Maintenance of protein homeostasis is impaired in skeletal muscle of humans with obesity. A hallmark of this defect is distorted expression of isoforms of the myosin heavy chain (MHC) protein, and this defect is linked to obesity-associated adverse health outcomes. By employing exercise and increase in plasma amino acids as investigational tools the investigators intend to modulate the metabolism of muscle MHC isoforms in order to unravel the biological mechanisms that sustain distorted MHC protein metabolism in muscle of humans with obesity. Read Less

The goal of this study is to evaluate the role of transcription factor EB (TFEB) in adipose (fat) tissue macrophages (ATM) in regulating adipose tissue and systemic metabolic function in obesity. The investigators will assess the differences in ATM lipid metabolism in people with metabolically abnormal obesity and lean individuals. Both groups will have: * screening visit * imaging (body composition testing - dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, magnetic resonance imaging \[MRI\] and magnetic resonance spectroscopy \[MRS\] scans) * Overnight visit with intravenous infusion (IV), muscle, and fat tissue biopsies Participants with obesity will complete meetings with study team members for a weight loss intervention to achieve a 10% body weight loss. Read Less

This study aims to develop and cross-validate novel bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equations for predicting appendicular soft tissue masses, specifically fat mass (FM) and appendicular lean mass (ALM), in a sample of Caucasian adult subjects affected by obesity. The research will compare these new BIA equations with three established BIA-derived prediction models and validate them using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. This study utilizes existing datasets to enhance the accuracy and applicability of BIA in assessing body composition and supports the development of standardized algorithms for converting raw BIA data across different devices and populations. Read Less

The rate of weight gain in the first year of life is risk factor for future obesity. The study will test (1) a model of l mechanisms underlying the development of emotion, attachment, and nutritive intake; and (2) the association with maternal feeding behavior, child eating behavior, dietary intake, and adiposity. Read Less

This study will evaluate the effects of whole vs. nonfat milk consumption on body composition, cardiometabolic disease risk factors, and dietary quality. Read Less

The SMARTer trial will be a three-arm, randomized controlled non-inferiority trial that compares the optimized, adaptive SMARTer intervention, fixed DPP, and usual care assessment-only (Control). The trial will address whether a scalable, stepped-care intervention can stand up to gold-standard DPP by achieving comparable weight loss at a lower cost. Alongside evaluation of clinical non-inferiority, a comprehensive economic evaluation will inform relative affordability. Cost information is important to inform treatment policy and change standard of care, but is sorely lacking for behavioral interventions. The SMARTer intervention reduces costs by initially offering minimal intervention to all and stepping up to offer more costly treatment components only to non-responders who fail to attain the target weight loss. A rigorous economic evaluation planned and designed alongside the SMARTer trial will provide an accurate, robust head-to-head comparison of costs, cost-effectiveness, and projected lifetime health care costs between the three arms. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to understand how the nervous system communicates to blood vessels to increase blood pressure during stress. The study will also investigate how hypertension and obesity influence the nervous system and vascular function. The study will involve measuring sympathetic nervous system activity and blood flow during common laboratory physiological stress protocols (e.g. hypoxia, exercise), and in response to infusion of drugs that cause vasodilation or vasoconstriction. Read Less

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the effects of 4 weeks of daily consumption of encapsulated N-trans-caffeoyl tyramine (NCT) and N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (NFT) at a dose of 120 mg/d on measures of fat oxidation in women with overweight or obesity. The hypothesis is that fat oxidation at rest (measured via indirect calorimetry) and over a 24 h period (measured via d31-palmitic acid stable isotope tracer) will be higher in the group receiving the active study product compared to the control product at the end of the 4-week consumption period. Read Less

Brown fat is a type of fat, found in both children and adults, which can produce heat and regulate the body's metabolism and energy use. White fat is the more common type of fat which is used to store extra calories. Understanding more about differences between brown and white fat may allow us to develop new approaches to improve the body's metabolism. Read Less

The purpose of this study is determine the effectiveness of a six-month virtually-delivered dietary education intervention (PEDALL) on the prevention of overweight and obesity (OW/OB) during maintenance chemotherapy in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Read Less

The primary objective of the STRIVE study is to compare two implementation strategies for Diabetes Prevention Program delivery: an in-person health coach strategy (standard 24 in-person sessions at WIC clinics) vs. a multifaceted technology-assisted health coach implementation strategy (12 in-person sessions at WIC clinics supplemented by technology support) on implementation and health-related outcomes in postpartum women. Read Less

Dementia is a leading cause of death in the United States among aging adults. Brain insulin resistance has emerged as a pathologic factor affecting memory, executive function as well as systemic glucose control. Regular aerobic exercise decreases Alzheimer's Disease (AD) risk, in part, through changes in brain structure and function. However, there is limited data available on how exercise impacts brain insulin resistance in aging. This study will test the effect of acute exercise on brain insulin sensitivity in middle-aged to older adults. The study will also examine cognition and cardiometabolic health in relation to brain insulin sensitivity. Read Less