Weight Loss Clinical Trials in the US
Obesity is one of the most prevalent health conditions affecting adults and children alike.
While those from some ethnicities are more prone to putting on weight easily, the overall statistics show that the problems are affecting the majority of the American population.
This equates to about 138 million Americans being obese, contributing to an estimated annual healthcare cost of approximately $173 billion.
Intense research and studies have been conducted on the topic to discover the triggering factors and the best and most effective way to lose unwanted, extra weight.
So, if you want to be part of weight-loss clinical trials, you’ve come to the right place. This article lists some of the top sources that offer varying weight loss clinical trial opportunities.
Importance of Weight Loss Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are essential parts of clinical research and form the foundation of advances in medical science.
Clinical trials are ideal to discover new ways of preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases.
Thousands of scientists across the US are currently engaged in various forms of clinical trials for weight loss and obesity.
While some studies focus on diet’s role in obesity, others explore innovative behavioral, surgical, and pharmacological interventions to improve weight management.
Some of the significant questions that scientists are attempting to answer by conducting weight-loss clinical trials include:
- Identifying patients who may respond to a specific type of diet or drug,
- Studying how the gut microbiome influences a person’s weight,
- Studying how metabolism influences obesity and other similar health conditions,
- Investigating how gestational weight gain affects maternal and neonatal health,
- Learning how physical activities improve and maintain a healthy weight limit.
Weight Loss Clinical Trials in the US
Now that you know how critical these studies are, let’s take a quick look at some of the most prominent weight-loss clinical trials currently being conducted in the US:
1. Novel Executive Function Training for Obesity (NEXT)
The aim of the Novel Executive Function Training for Obesity (NEXT) program was to assist with the development of treatments, with 67 participants enrolled in the trial, which completed in January 2023. Results were posted in February 2024.
Participants are expected to share qualitative feedback to help with treatment development.
Next, a randomized clinical trial will evaluate NEXT by comparing it with conventional BWL to check the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy.
Study type – Interventional (Clinical Trial)
Estimated enrolment – two groups of 10 participants
Allocation – Randomized
Intervention Model – Parallel Assignment
Masking – Single (Outcome Assessor)
Primary purpose – Treatment
Official title – Novel Executive Function Training for Obesity
2. Preventing Weight Gain Among Those Who Decline Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment (STEADY)
This trial focused on discovering interventions that prescribe self-weighing but did not advise diet or physical activity changes. This trial completed recruitment with 39 participants and demonstrated that, at 12 months, nearly one-third of participants achieved ≥3% weight loss, showing the feasibility of the self-weighing intervention.
The trial focuses on promoting self-weighing and using evidence-based weight management resources.
Study type – Interventional (Clinical Trial)
Estimated enrollment – 40 participants
Intervention model – Single Group Assessment
Intervention model description – Single-Arm Trial
Masking – None (Open Label)
Primary purpose – Prevention
Official title – Preventing Weight Gain Among Those Who Decline Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment
3. FRESH-TEEN: Families Responsibility Education Support Health for Teens
This clinical study compared the efficiency of BWL and BWL+ER. Investigators offered 6 months of treatment, including BWL+ER and BWL, and monitored the participants for 12 months post-treatment. The study was completed in January 2024, and the results are pending.
The study will recruit adolescents who suffer from obesity or are overweight, along with their parents.
Parents and participants will eventually be assessed for anthropometry, emotional inhibition, emotional regulation, emotional eating and adolescent-parent relationship factors.
Study type – Interventional (Clinical Trials)
Estimated enrollment – 332 participants
Allocation – Randomized
Intervention model – Parallel Assignment
Masking – Single (Outcome Assessor)
Primary purpose – Treatment
Official title – Targeting Emotional Eating and Weight Loss in Adolescents
Conclusion
These are the top three weight-loss clinical trials to be conducted in the US soon.
Suppose you are suffering from obesity or are noticeably overweight. In that case, it is highly recommended to visit the official NIH website and learn more about other weight-loss clinical trials in the US.
See Also
Clinical Trials for Weight Loss Surgery
