Neuronal and Behavioral Effects of an Implicit Priming Approach to Improve Eating Behaviors in Obesity...
Overweight and ObesityThe purpose of this study is to determine how different behavioral interventions designed to alter food perceptions and behaviors affect brain responses to food, eating behaviors, and body weight.
Sarcopenic Obesity in Liver Transplanted Patients
Sarcopenic ObesityThe prevalence of obesity in cirrhotic patients who are candidates for liver transplantation (LT) is increasing, a phenomenon consistent with the increased prevalence of obesity in the general population. On the other hand, in liver patients on the waiting list for transplantation it is often observed sarcopenia. The combination of the two condition is defined sarcopenic obesity, which combines the negative synergy deriving from the two conditions. In this study the investigators will evaluate, for the first time, the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in subjects undergone LT and determine the possible associated risk factors, particularly the role of immunosuppressive treatment with calcineurin inhibitors in addition to dietary habits and physical activity.
Bariatric Endoscopy for Treatment of Obesity
ObesityA single-center prospective, randomized controlled study will be conducted in order to compare the main bariatric endoscopy (BE) techniques in obese patients (BMI >30 kg/m2) at Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, Mater Olbia Hospital, Qatar Foundation Endowment & Gemelli Foundation, Italy in period June 2020 - June 2023, with the aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these procedures.
Jejunal Ketogenesis and Type 2 Diabetes
ObesityMorbid4 moreThe goal of this cross-over study in obese subjects is to learn about the common co-morbidity type 2 diabetes and the local formation of ketone bodies. The type of study is an exploratory trial with the participants as own controls. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does food intake-induced ketogenesis exist in the small intestine of obese individuals? 2. Are insulin resistance, the incretin GLP-1 release and the glucose transporter SGLT1 affected in obese individuals without type 2 diabetes in the same way as those with type 2 diabetes?
Sympathetic Transduction in Obesity-associated Hypertension (OB-HTN)
HypertensionObesityThe purpose of this study is to understand how the nervous system communicates to blood vessels to increase blood pressure during stress. The study will also investigate how hypertension and obesity influence the nervous system and vascular function. The study will involve measuring sympathetic nervous system activity and blood flow during common laboratory physiological stress protocols (e.g. hypoxia, exercise), and in response to infusion of drugs that cause vasodilation or vasoconstriction.
Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid-Obesity Sequelae After Transplantation
Liver TransplantationObesityComplications associated with excess weight (hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes) have become major causes of morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation (LT). To ensure excellent long-term outcomes with LT it is critically important to understand the best strategies to minimize obesity and its associated complications in our patients. Weight loss can be achieved through dieting and exercise, but most patients are unable to maintain the weight loss. In the general population, bariatric surgery is much more effective than medical treatment for permanent weight loss and prevention or reduction of obesity-associated complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of performing sleeve gastrectomy (SG) procedure in the early post-LT period in obese patients. The patient population for this study will be anyone listed for liver transplantation at Toronto General Hospital (University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada) and meeting the current standard criteria for bariatric surgery (BMI>40, or BMI>35 with at least 1 obesity-related complication).This study will randomly assign eligible participants to one of two groups (1:1). Patients in group 1 will receive standard lifestyle/diet counselling while patients in group 2 will undergo SG-specific counselling prior to transplant and the SG procedure within 2 weeks of LT (if safe to do so). All participants will be followed for 12 months.
Respiratory Effects of Obesity in Children
Childhood ObesityIn obese children, excess fat on the thorax exerts an unfavorable burden on the respiratory system, particularly during exercise; however, it is unclear if this burden reduces exercise tolerance, provokes dyspnea on exertion, or contributes to respiratory symptoms that could be misdiagnosed as asthma, placing obese children at risk of unnecessary treatment and potentially a reluctance to exercise explaining reports of low physical activity and fitness levels, which are counterproductive to weight loss. The investigators will examine the respiratory effects of obesity in prepubescent boys and girls, including those with respiratory symptoms misdiagnosed as asthma, before and after 1) a program of weight loss and regular exercise and 2) continued weight gain as compared with prepubescent normal weight boys and girls before and after 1 year. These results will have broad and immediate clinical impact on the care of obese children, especially those with respiratory symptoms misdiagnosed as asthma, and the results could alter interventional approaches for preventing and treating childhood obesity.
The Baby Act Trial
Obesity in ChildhoodChildhood obesity is increasing, particularly among Hispanics. Rapid weight gain during childhood increases the risk of obesity in childhood and in adulthood, also increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. This can be prevented with interventions during early in life that address multiple risk factors associated with the early development of obesity. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test an intervention to promote baby activation and improve their sleep patterns and feeding patterns from birth to 12 months of age. For this purpose, pregnant women participating in the Special Nutrition Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program in Puerto Rico will be recruited and randomly assigned to the control group (usual care within the program) or to the WIC + group (usual care + intervention). The intervention will focus on age-appropriate physical activity for children, healthy sleep and limited time on the screen, healthy dietary patterns and growth monitoring. The content will be delivered with a multimedia approach (web platform, mobile messages and telephone follow-up). If successful, this intervention could be adopted by the WIC program in Puerto Rico to help prevent childhood obesity among its participants. This will help improve the health of minorities and eliminate health disparities among Hispanics and other at-risk groups.
Healthy Frio: A Rural Community Partnership to Advance Latino Obesity Research
ObesityNutrition Poor2 moreMuch has been learned about the efficacy and effectiveness of comprehensive healthy lifestyle interventions to reduce obesity. Few studies have been translated into rural settings or among Latinos. Y Living is an evidence-based family-focused intervention (FI) designed for urban Latino families. The FI is a 12-week behavioral modification program grounded in social cognitive theory, designed to engage the whole family in lifestyle changes by developing knowledge and skills in physical activity and healthy eating, building skills in goal-setting and self-monitoring, and creating a supportive home environment. Researchers will engage community partners in formative research to adapt the current FI for rural Latino families. Two parallel delivery methods of the FI will be developed and tested: 1) in-person group setting at a community center (FI-IP) and 2) home-based delivered remotely with technology (FI-RT). Both will be designed to address the unique social, cultural and environmental factors facing rural Latino families. The FI-RT will take advantage of innovative modern technology and e-Learning to increase program availability, accessibility and participation in rural settings. Researchers will conduct a 3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare effectiveness of the two delivery approaches on weight loss (primary outcome) and energy balance behaviors (secondary outcomes) among obese Latino parent-child pairs versus control. The researchers will recruit 270 obese Latino adults (ages 21-65) with a child (ages 8-17) from three primary care practices in rural South Texas. These parent-child pairs will be randomized to one of three arms stratified by clinic: 1) FI-IP (n=90); 2) FI-RT (n=90); or 3) control group (n=90). Primary specific aims are to: 1) Conduct community-engaged formative studies to transform the existing FI into two unique delivery methods (FI-IP and FI-RT) for use in a subsequent RCT in a rural Latino community; and 2) Conduct a RCT to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of FI-IP and FI-RT to address weight loss (primary outcome) and energy balance behaviors (secondary outcomes) among obese rural Latino adults compared with adult participants in control group at immediate post intervention (3 months), after a 3-month maintenance program (6 months post randomization) and a 6-month follow-up (12 months post randomization). A secondary aim is to examine the impact of FI-IP and FI-RT children's weight and energy balance behaviors.
MuLtidimensional School-based and Family interVentions to Promote hEalthy and Sustainable LifestYle...
Childhood ObesityChildhood obesity condition has increased 10 times in the last 40 years, representing one of the most important public health challenges of our century. The overweight and obesity in children are conditions associated with several determinants, mostly related to dietary habits, physical activity, and environmental behavior. To counteract childhood obesity, several prevention programs have been promoted, however evidence concerning their efficacy was contrasting, especially among the younger population and in the long term. Moreover, due to the wide variety of interventions administered it is not clear which specific strategy (or combinations of strategies) was the most effective. The LIVELY study aims 1) to assess the prevalence and the factors associated to childhood overweight and obesity; 2) to develop multidimensional strategies for prevention of childhood obesity by involving families and recognizing the role of schools as an environment for raising awareness on healthy and sustainable dietary patterns and lifestyle.