Effects of a Minimal-Contact Lifestyle Intervention on Physical Activity, Diet, and Body Weight...
Weight LossThe purpose of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial, to determine whether providing financial incentives for meeting daily step goals (a) increases the daily step counts of participants, (b) increases compliance with the overall program (including diet recommendations), and (c) increases weight loss.
Gestational Weight Gain and the Electronic Medical Record
PregnancyWeight GainLess than one third of pregnant women actually achieve the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommended weight gain. To date, there are no randomized controlled trials studying the use of the electronic medical record to alert providers to initiate the counseling of patients on the IOM gestational weight gain recommendations. In the investigator's planned study intervention, using the EPIC EMR system, an electronic alert (Best Practice Advisory) will appear for providers at each prenatal care visit. This alert will remind providers to counsel patients on the recommendations for gestational weight gain. The control group will receive standard prenatal care, without electronic alerts generated regarding BMI and gestational weight gain. The investigators hypothesize that a higher percentage of patients who receive the intervention will meet the IOM guidelines for weight gain.
Evaluating a Small Change Approach to Preventing Long Term Weight Gain in Overweight and Obese Adults...
ObesityPrevention of Weight GainObesity is a major risk factor for disease and a public health problem. Recent information suggests that while it is possible for most overweight adults to lose a substantial amount of weight, maintaining the weight loss for any extended time (2 to 3 years) is very difficult. This is because trying to maintain big changes in exercise and/or eating behaviour is very difficult in today's environment that makes sustain big changes in behaviour (Example: eat allot less or exercise allot more) very hard. In fact at this time health professionals are unsure of how best to help overweight adults maintain big behavioral changes for long periods of time. In response, we propose that making smaller changes in eating and exercise habits every day may be possible in today's environment and if so, small weight changes may be possible to maintain for long periods of time. This study is designed to assess whether making small changes in eating and exercise behavior will be associated with sustained weight loss over three (3) years. The results of the study may have important implications for development of public health messages and clinical guidelines for prevention and treatment of obesity through small changes in both exercise and eating habits.
Weight Loss and Maintenance for Individuals With Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
Weight LossIndividuals with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) have obesity rates that exceed those in the general population, consume energy dense diets, and perform very little physical activity (PA). Overweight and obesity are independent risk factors for chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in both the general population and those with IDD. The investigators modified the Stop Light Diet (SLDm) to include reduced energy pre-packaged meals (PM) for 6 months, encouraged consumption of low energy shakes and 35 fruits and vegetables (F/V) per week. The investigators will compare participants who use the SLDm with participants who use a reduced energy and fat diet with meal plans, based off of the current American Dietetic Association recommended car for weight reduction plan.
Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) Diffusion Weighted MRI (DW-MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy...
Head and Neck CancerMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic study that makes pictures of organs of the body using magnetic field and radio frequency pulses that can not be felt. Dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) uses faster imaging and contrast material (a substance used to make specific organs, blood vessels, or tumors easier to see) that is given by vein. Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) allows to measure the motion of water around the cells in the tumor. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) obtains chemical information from the tumor. During MRS, signals are detected from the chemicals (spectroscopy) naturally present in your tumor using radio waves. DCE-MRI, DW-MRI and MRS give extra information which is not available with the regular MRI. The regular MRI only shows pictures of the tumor while the DCE-MRI also gives information about the blood vessels of the tumor. DW-MRI provides information related to the state of the tumor tissue with regards to the quality or condition of cells present in it and MRS gives information about the chemical makeup of the tumor. The purpose of this study is to see whether DCE-MRI, DW-MRI and MRS done before treatment can predict which patients will do well with either surgery or chemo-radiation therapy. This study will also see if DCE-MRI, DW-MRI and MRS done early in treatment can tell if the therapy is working.
Caloric Restriction and Body Weight in Adults
OverweightThe purpose of this study is to determine the role of dietary calcium in fecal fat loss and the association between lactose maldigestion, dietary calcium level and source, and weight loss induced by caloric restriction. caloric restriction on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress
Effect of Revival Soy on Weight Loss and Skin, Hair, and Nails in Premenopausal Women
Skin AgingWeight LossThe purpose of this study is to determine if dietary consumption of Revival Soy can improve the appearance of the skin, hair, and finger nails and support weight loss in overweight, premenopausal women.
Effects of Weight Loss in Obese Difficult-to-treat Asthmatics
AsthmaObesity1 moreSixty percent of patients with difficult to control asthma seen in our outpatient clinic are obese. The impact of weight reduction in this subpopulation of asthmatics has not been studied. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of weight reduction on asthma control of these patients.
Weight Management for Adolescents With IDD
Developmental DisabilitiesWeight Loss4 moreThe goal of this study is to explore the impact of two different diets (conventional vs. enhanced stop light) and two different delivery systems (face-to-face vs. remote) on weight across 18 months in overweight and obese adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Study of a Structured Parent Intervention on Adolescent Weight Loss Modification Program.
Pediatric ObesityImpact of Parent Intervention on Adolescent Weight LossThe study will enroll 110 overweight and obese adolescents ages 11-16 in a lifestyle modification program focusing on dietary modification and exercise. Parents will be randomized into control and motivational interviewing-based intervention groups. The primary hypothesis is that adolescents whose parents are in the intervention group will have improved compliance, weight loss and health outcomes compared with adolescents whose parents do not receive the intervention.