Active clinical trials for "Obesity"

Being overweight or obese has been associated with insulin resistance contributing to an increased risk for the development of type II diabetes. Food intake, metabolic rate, and blood glucose levels are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, including the vagus nerve. This study evaluates the hypothesis that non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) affects hormones that regulate food intake and blood glucose levels in a way that is consistent with reduced food intake and lower blood glucose levels. The investigators further hypothesize that these effects of taVNS depend on body weight. In a cross-over design generally healthy study participants will receive either taVNS or a sham intervention for 30 minutes on two separate study days. The order of the intervention on the two study days will be randomized and the two study days are at least one week apart. Based on body mass index (BMI) study participants are assigned to either a normal weight (BMI<25), overweight (BMI<30), or obese (BMI>30) group. Capillary blood samples taken by finger prick before and after the intervention on each study day will be analyzed for blood glucose concentration and hormones that are linked to food intake and blood glucose levels. In addition, autonomic function will be assessed by heart rate variability analysis of ECG recordings obtained before, during, and after the intervention on each study day.

Currently, the incidence of obesity and obesity-related disorders is reaching epidemic proportions, which entails an increasing burden for health care systems. The association of obesity with other risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, such as insulin resistance and hypertension, is often referred to as the metabolic syndrome. During recent years, salt-sensitivity of blood pressure has emerged as an additional cardiovascular risk factor that is related to obesity and other key components of the metabolic syndrome. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of these interrelationships are complex and incompletely elucidated. Microvascular dysfunction has been proposed as a link between insulin resistance and hypertension in obese individuals. In addition, impairment of microvascular function was found to be associated with salt-sensitivity of blood pressure. Increased aldosterone levels, as observed in obese individuals, might be a cause of microvascular dysfunction-induced salt-sensitivity and insulin resistance. Aldosterone not only gives rise to sodium-retention in the distal tubule of the kidney, but was also found to impair endothelial function and thus lower NO-availability, which is characteristic of microvascular dysfunction. In addition, elevated aldosterone levels are associated with both hypertension and insulin resistance, which is illustrated in patients with primary aldosteronism, but also in the general population. The investigators hypothesize that increased aldosterone levels in obese individuals lead to impairment of microvascular function through reduction of NO-availability. This microvascular dysfunction is suggested to play a central role in the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension and insulin resistance.

This study evaluates the hypothesis that a meal constituted of only glucose produces differences in the brain blood flow in people with obesity that are not observed in people without obesity. These changes, at least in part, could explain the mechanisms involved in maintenance or development of obesity.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of green tea on body weight, waist circumference, metabolic profile, inflammation, blood pressure and endothelial function in obese pre-hypertensive women.

to test the metabolic and clinical effects of a 6-month program of dancing in subjects with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity, chronically cared for in two diabetes/metabolic units. Self-selection of the leisure time activity program was allowed to increase adherence to the physical activity programs.

Rationale: The appearance of tastants in the small intestine can result in the activation of a negative feedback mechanism from different parts of the intestine to the stomach, the small intestine and to the central nervous system. These processes inhibit food processing, appetite sensations and food intake, and furthermore they increase feelings of satiety and satiation. We will investigate the effects of intraduodenal infusion of quinine 75mg (bitter), rebaudioside A 540mg (sweet), monosodium glutamate 2g (umami), a combination of these tastants (quinine, rebaudioside A, monosodium glutamate) and placebo (5 test days in total) on ad libitum food intake, satiation and in vivo release of the gut satiety peptides CCK and GLP-1. Study design: To assess the effect of intraduodenal infusion of single ingredients and a combination of tastants (bitter, umami and sweet) on ad libitum food intake. Secondary Objective(s): To investigate the effect of intraduodenal delivery of a combination of tastants on satiation. To assess the effect of intraduodenal delivery of a combination of tastants on gastrointestinal hormone release. To assess the effects of the tastants quinine, rebaudioside A and monosodium glutamate on the parameters as mentioned under the primary objective, and under secondary objectives 1 and 2. To compare the effects, as mentioned under the primary objective, and under secondary objectives 1 and 2, of the combination of tastants to those of the three single tastants quinine, rebaudioside A and monosodium glutamate.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether playing motion-controlled video games produces low caloric intake and higher caloric expenditure than watching TV or playing traditional video games.

The purpose of this clinical study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a treatment option for obesity.

The primary objective of the proposed research is to determine the influence of 8 weeks of twice daily consumption of 120 kcal servings of dried apples or a commonly consumed low fat 120kcal muffin on components of obesity (waist circumference [waist measurement], serum glucose [blood sugar], triglycerides [fats in the blood] and HDL-cholesterol, and blood pressure) as well as antioxidant status, inflammatory markers, nutrient intake in overweight and obese individuals. A total of 48 children aged 10-16 years will be randomly assigned to groups and provided with twice daily 120 kcal servings of either dried apples or muffins for 8 weeks of feeding. Prior to initiating the feeding trial and again after 8 weeks, blood samples will be collected and analyzed. During each visit to the lab, subjects will be weighed in minimal clothing, tested for body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and air displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod) and blood pressure, and measured for waist circumference. One 24-hour recall will be performed prior to initiation of the study; one recall will be performed throughout the feeding period, and one at the end of the 8 weeks. Dietary intake of energy, macronutrients, vitamins and minerals will be assessed to determine diet quality. All food records will be analyzed using the Nutritionist Pro (First DataBank) software. The potential benefits of the study include determining the effects of consistent snacking and particular snack foods on metabolism and weight management. There are no major risks to subjects in this study. There are minimal risks when performing venipuncture (blood draws) including bruising, perforation of the vein leading to hematoma under skin, light-headedness or dizziness due to fear of needles, and infection. This study will hopefully allow more understanding and insight into the diet of children and the effect of it on body makeup and blood sugar. It is hypothesized that the twice a day apple snack group will have decreased waist circumference, body adiposity, triglycerides and total cholesterol as well as, increased blood glucose uptake at the end of 8 weeks.

The objectives of this study are: 1-To qualify the relationship between the gut microbiota and the host nutritional and metabolic status during dietary transition.2-To define the impact of nutritional transition on the intestinal microbiota and identify metagenomics signatures of nutritional transition.