Obesity Clinical Trials

Approximately 20-40% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are obese. The investigators have demonstrated that obesity adversely impacts disease course in patients with UC, leading to higher risk of persistently active disease, surgery, hospitalization, and treatment failure, particularly in biologic-treated patients. Intentional weight loss is effective in improving disease outcomes in patients with inflammatory arthritis, but there is limited data on its impact in UC. While dietary interventions for weight loss have limited efficacy and endoscopic bariatric interventions may be too invasive in patients with UC with active gastrointestinal symptoms, pharmacological weight loss with a highly effective oral agent may be a novel strategy to induce weight loss and augment the efficacy of biologic therapy in UC. Hence, the investigators are conducting a pilot, phase 2A, 22-week, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of phentermine-topiramate in obese patients with active UC starting on a new biologic agent (infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, vedolizumab). The overall objective is to (1) evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of phentermine-topiramate, and (2) to assess the impact of pharmacological weight loss on clinical outcomes, inflammatory burden and biologic trough concentration in patients with UC. The central hypothesis is that phentermine-topiramate will be safe, effective, and well tolerated in patients with UC, and weight loss would achieve higher rates of clinical and biochemical remission, and higher biologic trough concentration. Read Less

This study is investigating the effect of different intensities of exercise on levels of the hormone, ghrelin. In addition, we will be examining the relationship between any exercise induced changes in ghrelin and insulin sensitivity, obesity, and vascular function. Read Less

Obesity is pro-inflammatory, impairs metabolism, and physically limiting. Specifically, muscle in obese persons does not synthesize proteins normally. This further increases metabolic and physical dysfunction. As such, obesity programs should not only focus on weight loss, but muscle metabolic health. Dairy nutrients have anti-inflammatory and anabolic properties, but mostly evaluated in isolation and/or pre-clinical designs. Also, it is unknown if the circulating benefits extend to the muscle. We hypothesize that dairy full-fat milk will improve these obesity characteristics. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare weight change and other related outcomes associated with three different behavioral weight loss interventions (STANDARD Behavioral, PREVENT, and PROMOTE) in adults with obesity. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Which of the three Internet-delivered weight loss programs results in the greatest weight loss? * How do key weight-related behaviors (e.g., adherence, diet, physical activity) differ across the arms? * What individual characteristics predict success in each arm? * What are the underlying mechanisms of each approach? * Are there any potential adverse outcomes associated with any of the conditions (e.g., depression, weight stigmatization, increased body image concerns). Participants will: * signed informed consent * complete a baseline assessment * be randomized to 12 months of either Standard iBWL, PREVENT or PROMOTE * complete a training workshop to learn arm-specific cognitive strategies * complete a 12-month Internet-delivered weight loss program, requiring self-monitoring of intake and exercise and viewing of 12 weekly lessons followed by 9 monthly lessons * complete an assessment at 3 months (during treatment) * complete a refresher workshop on arm-specific cognitive strategies at 3 months * complete an assessment at 6 months (during treatment), 12 months (at the conclusion of treatment), and 18 months (6 months after treatment Read Less

Adults attempting weight loss through lifestyle modification (LM) typically find maintenance of behavior change difficult. Outcomes might be improved if participants are provided with sustained sources of accountability and support and ongoing opportunities to reflect with others on goal progress. This study proposes that sharing digital data with other parties has the potential to improve long-term weight loss. The proposed study will enroll adults ("index participants") (N = 320) with overweight/obesity in a 24-month LM program and instruct them to use digital tools for self-monitoring of weight, physical activity, and eating on a daily basis. Read Less

The objective of this pilot study is to determine whether obesity and metabolic syndrome are in fact synergistic in relation to airway nitric oxide (NO) biology. To do so, the investigators want to determine how obesity and the metabolic syndrome relate to metabolism in bronchial airway epithelial cells and the nasal epithelium. Read Less