Pediatric Obesity Clinical Trials

Determine the effectiveness of how limiting the time you eat within an early or late eating window and fasting for remainder of the day will impact weight loss and body mass index (BMI). Read Less

As the prevalence of obesity rises in the U.S., so does the incidence of pediatric type 2 diabetes (T2D), which is associated with more aggressive disease progression than in adults. From 2002-2012, the incidence of T2D in youth increased by 7% annually in the U.S. Compared to adults. T2D in adolescents is a much more progressive and recalcitrant disease, characterized by more rapid deterioration of β-cell function and earlier incidence of exogenous insulin dependence and diabetes-related comorbidities. A potential factor that drives the rapid progression of adolescent T2D is obesity (body mass index \[BMI\] \>95th percentile. Effective and safe treatments targeting both obesity and β-cell dysfunction are needed for pediatric T2D. In 2012, the FDA approved the use of Phentermine/Topiramate for the treatment of obesity in adults. This orally-administered medication is available in mid- (phentermine 7.5 mg; topiramate 46 mg) and high- (phentermine 15 mg; topiramate 92 mg) doses, administered once per day. In a meta-analysis, phentermine/topiramate was shown to be one of the most effective obesity medication currently available. A large dose-ranging trial in adults evaluating phentermine and topiramate as monotherapies vs. phentermine/topiramate demonstrated superior efficacy of the combination with an acceptable safety profile. Results from a large phase III clinical trial demonstrated placebo-subtracted weight loss of \>9% with treatment for one year at the top dose. Importantly, a separate trial demonstrated that the treatment effect is durable out to at least two years.41 The most common side effects in these trials were paresthesia, dizziness, dysgeusia, insomnia, constipation, and dry mouth. Improvements were noted in blood pressure, lipids, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, C-reactive protein, and adiponectin. Read Less

This study is a type-1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation RCT comparing a novel family-inclusive childhood obesity treatment program, the "Healthy Living Program" (HeLP), to a protocol that enhances usual primary care to deliver Recommended Treatment of Obesity in Primary Care (RTOP). Children with obesity and their families will be referred to the study by primary care providers and randomized to HeLP or RTOP. The clinical setting is a practice-based research network serving majority Hispanic and Medicaid-insured populations. The intensive phase and booster sessions of HeLP will take place at recreation centers located near the clinics and will be led by health educators employed by the clinics. Visits with primary care providers (PCPs) for HeLP maintenance or RTOP will occur at the clinics. Read Less

The aim of this study is to look at changes in diabetes-related risk factors in Black adolescent girls who are at risk for type 2 diabetes and their primary female caregiver after both participating in a 12-week in-person lifestyle program. Read Less

Purpose: This study will test the efficacy of a family-focused lifestyle intervention for reducing type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk factors and increasing Quality of Life (QoL) among high-risk Latino families. Read Less

Hardening of the blood vessels, called arterial stiffness, is a risk factor for future heart disease and its causes are unclear. The proposed study will 1) randomly assign adolescents at high risk of stiffening blood vessels to take a protein supplement called carnitine and study its effects on arterial stiffening and 2) study carnitine related genes for their effect on arterial stiffening. The study will definitively establish a role for carnitine action as a cause of stiffening blood vessels and signal a way to treat or prevent stiffening. Read Less

Studies show that virtually all increases in children's (5-12yrs) BMI occur during the summer, no matter children's' weight status (i.e., normal weight, overweight, or obese) at summer entry. Recent preliminary studies show that children engage in healthier behaviors on days that they attend summer day camps, and that BMI gain does not accelerate for these children. The proposed randomized dose-response study will identify the dose-response relationship between amount of summer programming and summer BMI gain. Read Less

Nearly one in five children are obese, and disparities in overweight and obesity between children from low- and middle-to-high-income households persist despite a multitude of school-based interventions. The structured days hypothesis posits that structure within a school day plays a protective role for children against obesogenic behaviors, and, ultimately, prevents the occurrence of excessive weight gain, thus, past school-based efforts are misplaced. This study will provide access to healthy structured programming via vouchers to afterschool programs and summer day camps during two "windows of vulnerability" (ie afterschool and summer) for low-income children. Read Less

To study if continuous glucose monitors are feasible for use in children and adolescents with obesity. Read Less

This study aims to determine the relationships among loss of control eating, restriction, relative reinforcing value of high energy-dense food, and obesity risk. In order to achieve this aim, the investigators will follow children over the course of a year, obtaining behavioral and observational measurements, in addition to a two-week restricted access and two week non-restricted access period. Read Less