
mFit: The Mobile Fitness Project
OverweightObeseBACKGROUND: The nascent field of mobile health (mHealth) is expanding with impressive speed. In March 2012, experts estimated that 40,000 health related smartphone applications were on the market but little is known about the effectiveness of these programs. To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated whether weight loss can be successfully achieved through use of a smartphone application or how these applications could be used in primary care practice. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a popular, free smartphone application for weight loss and calorie counting in a primary care setting. METHODS: The first phase of this study involved a community based participatory approach to select the intervention. Patient focus groups were conducted and analyzed to explore patients' preferences regarding various text-message versus smartphone programs. The second phase of this study, described here, will be a randomized controlled trial with overweight primary care patients exposed to one of two conditions for 6 months: (1) usual care; (2) usual care plus smartphone application, which includes instructing participants on how to use the application and encouraging them to use the applications' reminders and social networking features. The primary outcome of interest is weight change at 3 and 6 months. Two-sample t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test will be used to compare weight change between groups, as appropriate. ANCOVA models will be used to examine weight change after adjusting for covariates such as education, sex and age. Repeated measures analysis will be carried out to compare weight change between the groups using baseline, 3 month and 6 month data. In addition to an intent-to-treat analysis, the investigators will also conduct a "treatment received" analysis, adjusting for the extent of application use in both the intervention and control arms. CONCLUSIONS: This study will demonstrate whether a smartphone application introduced in primary care settings and incorporated into the visit can produce weight loss. Study findings could inform a national discourse on the value of smartphone applications in routine clinical practice.

Study of Effectiveness of Different Lifestyle Interventions for Health and Wellbeing
Metabolic Syndrome Risk FactorsOverweight1 moreThe purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness and applicability of different interventions designed for enhancing overall wellbeing. Lifestyle changes, as well as psychological and physiological health variables are assessed. The interventions are based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, and delivered either face-to-face, via mobile phone application, or Internet.

IgG-mediated Food Test for Weight Loss
Overweight and ObesityThis study assessed the effect of an IgG-mediated food sensitivity test in combination with a food elimination diet on body composition and secondary outcomes in people who were overweight.

A 4-month Intervention of Antioxidant Supplementation in Overweight Children
Metabolic SyndromeIn obese children, low antioxidant vitamin intake and reduced antioxidant capacity are common. Weight reduction reduces subclinical inflammation in obese subjects, and, similarly, antioxidant vitamins have been shown to reduce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, antioxidants reduce oxidative stress which influences endothelial function and might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related disorders. Furthermore, overweight children and adults have a markedly increased risk for iron deficiency. The mechanism linking obesity with iron deficiency is unclear. Growing evidence suggests that the elevated inflammatory status associated with obesity increases circulating hepcidin and this contributes to iron deficiency. Weight reduction has been shown to be associated with reduced inflammation and serum hepcidin concentrations, and an improved functional iron state. Thus, reducing inflammation in obese children may improve iron metabolism and reduce their risk of iron deficiency. Therefore, positive effects on subclinical inflammation, hepcidin/iron status and metabolic risk factors in obese children during weight loss may be enhanced by supplementation with antioxidants. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of 4-month antioxidant supplementation on subclinical inflammation, hepcidin, iron status and components of the metabolic syndrome in overweight children undergoing an outpatient weight-loss program. Our hypotheses are: 1. During an outpatient weight loss program, antioxidant supplementation will reduce oxidative and inflammatory stress associated with obesity to a greater extent than weight loss alone. 2. This will have two effects, compared to weight loss alone: a.It will reduce circulating hepcidin concentrations, and improve iron status. b.It will improve metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects The investigators plan to enroll 50 children who are participants in outpatient weight-loss programs in the German part of Switzerland. Enrollment will be done with the agreement and assistance of the physician supervising the weight-loss program, and the timing of the study measurements will be incorporated within the existing program schedule. It is anticipated that the baseline blood sample for this study will be obtained from the regular baseline venipuncture for the weight-loss study. Criteria for participation include age between 10 to 18 years and a BMI over the 85th percentile for age and sex. Exclusion criteria include major medical illnesses, including gastrointestinal, inflammatory, bleeding and/or endocrine disorders, a history of nephrolithiasis, unusual dietary habits (e.g. vegetarianism), major food allergies or intolerances (lactose, gluten), smoking, and use of chronic medications or vitamin/mineral antioxidant supplements. Study design The study will be a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial. Children will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: antioxidant (AO) or placebo (P) supplement. If it is necessary to enroll children from different weight-loss programs, then randomization will be stratified by program. During the 4-month weight loss period, the AO group will consume oral supplements of ascorbic acid (500mg), alpha tocopherol (400 IU), and 50 µg selenium (all from Burgerstein Vitamins, Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland) each evening with diner, whereas the P group will consume identical-appearing placebo supplements.

To Assess the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Oral Administration...
OverweightHealthy1 moreThe purpose of the study is to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of AZD8329 following multiple ascending dose administrations in in overweight to obese but otherwise healthy male subjects.

Evaluation of a New Orange-Based Beverage Enriched With Polyphenols in Adult Humans
OverweightObesityThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a new orange juice-based beverage enriched in fiber and selected phenolic compounds (mainly flavanones) on features of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk factors related to inflammation and antioxidant defense system in overweight and obese adult humans. This study hypothesizes that consumption of an orange juice-based beverage enriched in fiber and selected phenolic compounds (mainly flavanones)would improve lipid levels and lipid metabolism,blood pressure and the Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) index.

The Metabolic Effects of a High Fructose Versus a High Glucose Diet in Overweight Men
Hepatic Fatty Acid MetabolismSystemic Insulin Resistance2 moreDietary consumption of fructose has increased by nearly 50% since 1960. A high fructose diet (HFrD) results in greater visceral adiposity and systemic insulin resistance than a high glucose diet. The effects of fructose on liver fatty acid and ATP stores, systemic oxidative stress and cardiovascular status are not fully known.

Weight Loss in Chronic Disease Patient Population
OverweightObesity2 moreThis study will assess the effect of in-home tele-health monitoring on health outcomes for LSUHCSD chronic disease, overweight or obese patients diagnosed with type II diabetes or hypertension.

SCALE: Small Changes and Lasting Effects
OverweightObesityThe goal of this study is to translate basic behavioral and social science discoveries into effective behavioral interventions that reduce obesity and obesity related morbidity in Black and Latino communities. This intervention will focus on promoting small changes in eating behavior and increasing physical activity among Black and Latino participants in Harlem and the South Bronx. The desired result from these activities is individual weight loss that will be sustained years after participation in the study.

Effects of Dietary Protein on Undesirable Postprandial Events in Overweight Subjects
OverweightDietary protein differing by their amino acid composition could modulate undesirable metabolic and functional responses to a meal rich in saturated fat and sugars. This study aims at examining the specific effects of dairy protein with different cysteine contents on the postprandial undesirables effects elicited by the ingestion of a high fat meal in overweight subjects.