Obesity Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to investigate if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can increase the effectiveness of cognitive training to reduce impulsivity in individuals with obesity, and to evaluate weight change with these individuals. The long-term goal of this research is to develop new treatment approaches for individuals with obesity. Read Less

This study involves an evaluation of whether social support from a cohabitating adult improves Veteran weight loss in a weight management program. Read Less

The PREDICT 3 study will build on previous research in over 2,000 individuals to further refine machine learning models that predict individual responses to foods, with the aim of advancing precision nutrition science and individualized dietary advice. The study incorporates both standardized and controlled dietary intervention, for the purpose of testing postprandial responses to specific mixed meals, in addition to a free-living period with a dietary record for measuring responses to a large variety of meals consumed in a realistic context, where the role of external factors (e.g. exercise, sleep, time of day) on postprandial responses may be determined. For the first time this PREDICT study is built on top of a commercial product which will allow access to a much larger group of participants who are already collecting large amounts of data through digital and biochemical devices that can contribute to science. Read Less

To assess the feasibility of an expedited referral process for the obese endometrial cancer or EIN patient from her gynecologic oncologist to the Brigham Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (CMBS) in order to undergo concurrent weight loss surgery and hysterectomy within 8 weeks of first appointment with a gynecologic oncologist (or 12 weeks for EIN patients). Read Less

The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of detecting Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) in healthy subjects by using hyperpolarized xenon gas MRI. In this pilot study, MRI of BAT of healthy adult volunteers will be performed at 3 Tesla to assess image quality using a prototype surface coil and pulse sequence following inhalation of hyperpolarized 129Xe (xenon) gas at thermoneutrality and under mild cold condition. The investigators are testing the abilities of xenon MRI to see brown adipose tissue and detect its thermogenic activity. Read Less

Adipose tissue turnover plays a critical role in body weight maintenance, and obesity is underscored by the dysregulated balance between fat breakdown and synthesis. Although there are clear health-related benefits of physical activity, little is known about how resistance exercise, as opposed to endurance exercise, can reduce the risk of metabolic disorders, particularly in women. The goal of the proposed study is to investigate the effectiveness of resistance training to improve basal and stimulated fat metabolism in postmenopausal women with obesity and pre-diabetes, potentially serving as a viable and practical approach to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Read Less

The purpose of this registry study is to collect data through medical chart review and in patient visits on the efficacy and safety of various Endoscopic Bariatric therapies (EBTs). This is a retrospective and prospective, observational, medical chart review study for at least 6 standard of care visits up to 5 years after a subject consents for study participation. Read Less

The primary goal of this study is to assess the accuracy of conventional fat fraction proton MRI for the detection of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) in healthy subjects using 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucosefluorodeoxyglucose -PET as gold standard. In this pilot study, MRI and PET imaging of BAT of healthy adult volunteers will be performed on a combined PET/MRI scanner under mild cold condition. Read Less

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is common among Veterans and results in poor psychological functioning, quality of life, and physical health. This includes having disproportionately high rates of obesity, in part due to PTSD symptoms interfering with physical activity and healthy diet. Unfortunately, Veterans with PTSD have poorer weight loss outcomes than those without PTSD in VA's existing weight management program, MOVE!. Based on pilot work, it appears that a weight management program that augments standard PTSD care and targets PTSD-related barriers to weight loss improves weight and PTSD symptoms. Whether it improves these issues more than standard VA care is in need of study, which is the focus of the proposed research. The proposed study also seeks to understand factors that would interfere with and facilitate implementing the program in VA if it is effective. This Veteran-centered, tailored weight loss program may efficiently benefit both physical and mental health of Veterans with PTSD, addressing standard care limitations. 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

Low-income urban communities have many small food stores, but poor access to healthier foods and beverages. The investigators will develop, implement and evaluate the feasibility of a Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) web-based application (app) to improve access to affordable, healthier products from local producers/wholesalers in 38 urban corner stores in low-income Baltimore neighborhoods, using a randomized controlled trial design and assess its impact on store stocking and sales. The R34 will provide a developed and tested version of the BUD app, which will resolve challenges related to affordability and delivery of healthful foods and beverages to small food stores, permit development of new instruments, assess potential impacts at the consumer level, permitting power and sample size estimates for the full-scale clinical trial, and demonstrate the investigators' ability to recruit and retain large numbers of wholesalers, producers, and corner stores in low-income urban settings. Read Less

The study will use a between-subjects design in a sample of individuals with BMI greater than or equal to 28 from the Los Angeles community (N=330). Participants will be randomly assigned to a weight stigma vs. control manipulation. Changes to the following health behaviors will be subsequently measured in their everyday lives: 3-day diet as captured by ecological momentary assessment (EMA) food diaries, objectively measured eating of obesogenic foods, objectively measured physical activity captured by 24-hour actigraphy, and sleep, captured objectively by overnight actigraphy and subjectively self-reported sleep measures. The investigators hypothesize that weight stigma causes decrements in health behaviors (e.g., sleep, eating, and physical activity) in everyday life. Read Less