Obesity Clinical Trials

The goal of this study is to learn about how the hormone insulin controls blood sugar. The main question it aims to answer is about how much insulin the body actually needs to maintain a normal blood sugar level. People with obesity and high insulin levels will receive eight doses of diazoxide, a drug that suppresses the pancreas's production of insulin, and will have their fasting blood sugar and insulin levels checked daily while taking the drug. Read Less

Obesity disproportionately impacts sexual minority women. Behavioral weight loss programs are the gold standard treatment for mild to moderate obesity. The investigators have developed an online behavioral weight loss program that is effective, low-cost, and highly scalable. However, existing research suggests that tailoring treatment to address 3 well-established weight loss barriers in sexual minority women will be critical for maximizing the relevance and efficacy of behavioral weight loss for this group. In the Preparation Phase of this K23, the investigators developed 3 novel treatment components targeting sexual minority women's weight loss barriers (i.e., minority stress, low social support, and negative body image), the investigators piloted the program among sexual minority women of higher weight, and the investigators conducted individual qualitative interviews to elicit feedback on the intervention's acceptability, cultural relevance, usability, and feasibility, and this feedback was used to refine the program. In the Optimization Phase of this K23 (the current phase), 88 women will receive 12 weeks of Rx Weight Loss and will be randomized to receive 0-3 tailored components in a full factorial design with 23 (8) distinct combinations of components. Novel components that increase mean weight loss (by ≥2%) or the proportion of women achieving clinically meaningful weight loss (by ≥10%) at 6 months will be retained in a finalized obesity treatment package that the investigators will evaluate in a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) (Evaluation Phase). The aims of this study are to: Aim 2A (Optimization): Use a factorial experiment to determine how 3 novel components impact mean weight loss and the proportion of women achieving a 5+% weight loss at 6 months. Aim 2B (Mediation): Clarify how tailored components impact weight loss by testing hypothesized mechanisms of action (i.e., coping with stress, perceived social support, weight and shape concerns). This project will tailor and optimize an evidence-based online behavioral obesity treatment to enhance weight loss outcomes in sexual minority women. Read Less

The proposed randomized controlled trial tests two self-regulatory approaches to improve intentional weight loss and diet quality in individuals with overweight or obesity: (1) an environmental control strategy (AVOID) and (2) an impulse control training strategy (RESIST). Read Less

Evaluation of biomarkers for risk of developing breast cancer in women with obesity who are using tirzepatide to achieve weight loss. Read Less

This study seeks to answer the fundamental questions of which initial, first-line weight loss intervention should be offered to older adults with obesity and multiple chronic conditions and how to address the high non-response rates observed with most conventional strategies. A sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART) design will permit the evaluation of treatment combinations that maximize weight loss and will provide data on constructing a future tailored, adaptive intervention. If successful, these findings will identify interventions that could markedly improve health and quality of life of these older adults, reduce long-term disability, and lower healthcare costs Read Less

This trial will examine the effect of semaglutide 2.4mg on changes in body weight, body composition, and peripheral and central mechanisms that control appetite, satiety, and food intake in the context of smoking cessation. Read Less

This is a multisite clinical trial of healthy lifestyle programs for middle-to-older-aged adults (50 -74 years) to improve their weight and, therefore, reduce risk for chronic disease. This study will investigate whether a proven, self-directed video-based lifestyle program can be significantly enhanced with the assistance of a coach via videoconference or phone to help people as they adopt healthy eating and exercise behaviors. Additionally, the study will examine what factors might explain why some people achieve better outcomes than others. Understanding this can help to tailor the program to an individual for personalized care in the future. Importantly, this study aims to demonstrate how readily a digital lifestyle program, with or without remote coaching, can be seamlessly delivered to patients at home via the patient portal of their electronic health record. This practical use of existing telehealth tools could be a feasible and effective means to offer behavioral treatments during routine medical care. Read Less

The overarching goal of our proposal is to reduce disparities in perinatal cardiovascular disease risk factors among Black women utilizing a community-driven, social ecological framework. Read Less

This 12-week controlled diet and weight intervention study seeks to define the molecular pathways that link excess body weight to the development of insulin resistance (IR). Blood, adipose and stool are sampled at three timepoints; baseline, peak weight (4 weeks) and post weight loss to monitor changes in cellular processes. Additionally, direct insulin sensitivity testing, and radiological measurement of visceral fat and intrahepatic fat content is measured at three timepoints to correlate clinical indices with cellular changes. Read Less

Obesity, affecting 40% of US adults and costing 173b annually, represents a significant health care burden (1). It is associated with increased risk for multiple chronic diseases including hypertension, type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease, and NAFLD, as well as cancer, osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The investigators plan to test the hypothesis that tirzepatide, a dual GLP/GIP agonist, improves metabolic health (insulin resistance and regional fat distribution and cardiovascular risk profile) not only by inducing weight loss via GLP1-agonism, but also via beneficial cellular and molecular changes in adipose tissue, given that GIP binds receptors in human fat cells. Based on studies in mice showing that GIP alone or tirzepitide treatment decreases inflammation, increases lipid buffering (fat storage in the fat cells instead of releasing it into the bloodstream), and improves glucose homeostasis. The investigators believe that the GIP component of tirzepatide will make fat cells healthier and reverse lipotoxicity, which is one of the mechanisms by which obesity leads to insulin resistance, disordered regional fat distribution, and type 2 diabetes. To date, the effect of dual GLP1 and GIP agonist treatment on adipose tissue has not been evaluated in humans. Given the existing but limited data, dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist treatment in obese humans with metabolic risk factors is an attractive pharmacologic candidate that would lead to both weight loss and healthier fat, potentially offering uniquely powerful synergistic clinical benefits. It is thus of tremendous importance to define the biological effects of dual-agonist treatment on human adipose tissue structure and function, as well as related improvements in regional fat distribution and systemic adipose and muscle insulin sensitivity. In this study, the investigators will randomize overweight (with risk factors) or obese nondiabetic individuals to hypocaloric diet or tirzepatide for 22 weeks with matched weight loss for the first 6 weeks. The investigators will quantify insulin resistance, fat and lean mass, including regional fat distribution, and changes in adipose tissue (needle biopsy from abdominal fat tissue) to see if tirzepatide effects differ from dietary weight loss. Read Less

The goal of ADELANTE is to determine whether a multi-level intervention to improve household food insecurity and glycemic control is effective for Latino patients with diabetes. Specifically, ADELANTE aims to 1. determine whether weekly household food delivery plus an intensive lifestyle intervention is more effective than usual care for improving glycemic control (HbA1c) at 6 months, 2. examine the effects of the multi-level intervention on = household food insecurity, dietary behaviors, and psychosocial outcomes, and 3. assess the future potential for implementation and dissemination of this multi-level intervention in primary care settings. Read Less

This study is being done to better understand whether meal replacements can be an effective tool for weight loss and treatment of elevated blood sugars in people with obesity/overweight and diabetes/pre-diabetes who have a low income. Read Less