85 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The major objective of this project is to examine whether daily consumption of milk polar lipids (MPLs) influences cardiometabolic risk factors.
A major contributing factor to the rising waist circumference of U.S. young adults is the increase in snacking behavior. Both the frequency of snacking during the day and the percentage of adults who engage in snacking has risen; national data indicates snacking comprises 15-25% of the total daily caloric intake of young and middle-aged adults. The overarching hypothesis, based on significant preliminary data, is that the quantity and metabolic function of abdominal fat is a key intermediary factor by which greater tree nut consumption reduces ectopic lipid storage (including the accumulation of intra-abdominal \[visceral\] fat), improves fatty acid and lipoprotein metabolism, reduces systemic inflammation and insulin resistance, and thus, reduces risk for MetS in millennial-generation age individuals.
Objective: Study the effect of body position on spirometry in obese patients as defined by waist to hip ratio (WHR) of greater than 0.85 in women, and 0.9 in men Background: Spirometry is routinely ordered to work up dyspnea in obesity. The most common abnormality is a restrictive disease pattern. The underlying mechanisms of this pattern are not completely understood. One plausible explanation is diaphragmatic weakness or skeletal muscle weakness. The change in forced vital capacity (FVC) from sitting to supine is a very sensitive and specific test for detecting diaphragmatic weakness. The effect of body position on spirometry in obesity has not been extensively studied, and there are no studies that look at this when obesity is measured by waist to hip ratio. Effect of body position has been studied in normal patients, and it is expected the FVC can decrease as much as 10% when changing from sitting to supine. The investigators do not know what would be considered 'the normal' amount for FVC to decrease by in the obese population, and thus would like to test patients with increased WHR both in sitting and supine position. The investigators also want to do muscle strength test by measuring the maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIPs and MEPs). Anticipated results: the investigators anticipate that our study population will replicate the restrictive disease pattern usually seen in obesity. The investigators also anticipate for the FVC to decrease when in the supine position compared to sitting. The amount by which it decreases will likely fall between 10 -25%. The investigators anticipate to not find any abnormalities in MIPs and MEPs in obesity.
This is a pilot study examining the effect of dietary supplements that contain soy products. The purpose of this study to find out if soy supplementation can help to reduce the storage of a certain kind of fat on the body, visceral fat. Visceral fat is fat found deep in the abdomen; it has the potential to increase the risk of certain health problems.
Stretching and flexibility exercise such as yoga and functional resistance exercise are two forms of exercise that are growing in popularity. However, they have not been scientifically tested to demonstrate their ability to improve body composition, fitness, heart and metabolic health, and mood state in overweight/obese women. The investigators hypothesize that during an 11 week intervention, both forms of exercise will improve body composition, heart and metabolic health and mood state.
Obesity is strongly associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Data increasingly suggest that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation -- or increased abdominal fat -- is particularly deleterious to cardiovascular health, but further study is needed to test this idea. Increased abdominal fat may also be associated with lower secretion of a hormone called growth hormone (GH), which helps the body burn fat. The current study aims to carefully characterize relationships between abdominal fat and CVD. In addition, by using a medication called growth hormone releasing hormone, which is a strategy to reduce abdominal fat, the investigators will test the hypothesis that abdominal fat contributes uniquely to increased arterial inflammation. In the first part of this study, the investigators will investigate both lean (healthy weight) individuals and individuals with increased abdominal fat. The investigators will study their body composition, cardiovascular risk measures, insulin sensitivity, and growth hormone dynamics, with the hypothesis that abdominal fat, independent of general obesity, will be strongly associated with arterial wall thickening and atherosclerotic inflammation. The investigators will assess arterial wall thickness, plaque morphology, and atherosclerotic inflammation, and the investigators will determine associations between these variables and regional fat accumulation, with particular attention to abdominal fat. The second, treatment part of the study will be only for individuals with increased abdominal fat who are found to have low growth hormone secretion. In that part of the study, the investigators will test the effects of a growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) analogue to reduce abdominal fat and, consequently, reduce arterial inflammation. The investigators hypothesize that abdominal fat reduction, independent of changes in growth hormone, will reduce arterial inflammation and arterial wall thickness.
Childhood obesity is a major public health issue, and the identification of children who are at increased risk of health problems due to their obesity is a priority for modern health care. Abdominal fat is considered to be the most harmful in the body, and the development of reliable landmarks and procedures for the assessment of intra-abdominal visceral adipose tissue and total body fat in children will have a major impact on 1) the early identification of children at elevated health risk, 2) the proper prioritization of health care resources, and 3) the standardization of obesity surveillance procedures within and between countries.
This is a double-masked evaluation of the safety and efficacy of LIPO-102 for the reduction of subcutaneous abdominal adiposity.
Abdominal obesity, which is affected by a lack of physical activity and excess weight, put people at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study will compare the effects of two different dietary approaches to weight loss, each combined with exercise, for their effects on cardiovascular factors that are early predictors of future cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese people with excessive weight around their waist. The two diets are a low-carbohydrate versus a more traditional low-fat, low calorie diet.
Metabolic syndrome is a term that describes a group of conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The conditions include high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol. This study will examine how changes in tobacco exposure and weight can affect the risk of developing metabolic syndrome among adolescents.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular-related diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Obesity, and more specifically abdominal obesity, may cause decreased growth hormone (GH) levels. It is believed that GH deficiency may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk by affecting insulin resistance, inflammatory markers, and blood cholesterol levels. This study will determine the occurrence of GH deficiency in abdominal obesity and whether GH deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular risk beyond traditional risk factors.
The purpose of this study is to better understand why some women who survived cancer or a related illness later develop diabetes, problems with their cholesterol, or other problems that may lead to heart disease. Because these problems may be related to treatment with total body irradiation and a stem cell transplant, the investigators will compare the rates of obesity, cholesterol problems, and diabetes between women who were treated with total body irradiation and a stem cell transplant and women who were not. The amount and location of fat stores in the abdomen is more important than overall weight or total body fat in the development of diabetes and cholesterol problems. In general, fat can be stored in several areas in the abdomen: around the organs (visceral fat), under the skin (subcutaneous fat), and in the liver (liver fat). People with higher amounts of fat around the organs (visceral fat), even those with a normal weight, are more likely to become diabetic or have high cholesterol. The amount of fat in each of these areas can be measured with an abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, the investigators will use blood tests, height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure measurements, and an abdominal MRI to evaluate for several risk factors of heart disease, including cholesterol problems, diabetes and pre-diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and increased abdominal fat.
Since 1980, the global prevalence of obesity, commonly defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, has doubled. Importantly, high levels of central adiposity (i.e., abdominal fat) is associated with numerous PNI-related sequelae, including increased levels of psychological distress, cognitive deficits, ANS dysfunction, and immune marker abnormalities. To our knowledge, rigorous investigation of chiropractic's impact on psychoneuroimmunological (PNI)-related outcomes in people with high central adiposity is lacking. Based on limited evidence to date, it is plausible that clinically important PNI-related dysfunctions (e.g., heightened stress levels, executive function impairments, dysautonomia, immune dysregulation) common in this population could be ameliorated via chiropractic care.
Dose-ranging, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study
This is a marketing study intended to provide additional data for marketing purposes for the eon™ FR is FDA 510(k) which has been cleared for non-invasive lipolysis of the abdomen to achieve disruption of adipocyte cells intended for non-invasive aesthetic use to achieve a desired aesthetic effect. This device is intended for individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or less.
The purpose of the WorkACTIVE-P study is to assess the outcome of an innovative multi-component intervention focused on increasing energy expenditure and re-balancing the disrupted energy balance equation of sedentary workplaces with an ultimate target of reducing workers' abdominal obesity.
The purpose of the study is to examine whether a medication called acipimox can improve your body's mitochondria. Mitochondria are the "power house" of the cell and make energy for your body. Obesity is associated with increased risk for developing diabetes. However, the investigators do not know how obesity leads to diabetes. Previous studies have shown levels of fat in the blood (free fatty acids or FFA) are higher in obesity, and elevated FFA can affect how our body uses glucose and responds to insulin. Recent studies have shown that changes in mitochondria may be involved in the development of diabetes and may be affected by FFA. The investigators propose to improve the function of mitochondria in obese people with pre-diabetes by treating with acipimox, a medication which decreases FFA. The investigators will use state of the art techniques to evaluate the mitochondria, including a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to measure function of mitochondria in muscle.
In this randomized controlled trial, we will examine the effect of a 3-month exercise training (aerobic exercise versus resistance exercise) without calorie restriction on total and regional adiposity, ectopic fat in the liver and skeletal muscle, and risk of type 2 diabetes in overweight girls.
The main objectives of this study are to collect pilot data to assess feasibility (accrual, retention, compliance), to estimate the variability of outcome measures, and to obtain preliminary estimates of treatment efficacy based on group differences in body composition (decreases in ectopic fat stores while maintaining lean mass), cardio-metabolic risk factors including glucoregulatory function (glucose, insulin), inflammation (C-reactive protein, IL-6), blood pressure and lipids (HDL, LDL, TC, TG), and measures of physical function and muscle strength. While this is just a pilot study, randomization will be used so that the investigators can obtain a realistic estimate of accrual (which is often less in a randomized trial) and an unbiased estimate of treatment efficacy. The investigators will accomplish these objectives by conducting a 2-arm, 3-month randomized, clinical trial in 24 older (60-79), abdominally obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and waist circumference ≥ 102 cm and ≥ 88 cm in men and women, respectively) men and women. Participants will be randomized to a soy-based or animal-based, 3-month, hypocaloric dietary intervention to achieve our specific aims: Primary Aim: To determine our ability to recruit and retain older, obese adults to a 3 month soy-based meal replacement weight loss intervention and assess the study participant's ability to adhere to the intervention protocol (weight, compliance logs, serum isoflavones). Secondary Aims: 1. To estimate the variability of and obtain preliminary estimates of the effect of the soy-based meal replacement on measures of body composition, including abdominal (total, subcutaneous and visceral fat), liver, and pericardial fat; anthropometrics (body weight, waist/hip circumference); and whole body fat and lean mass. 2. To estimate the variability of and obtain preliminary estimates of the effect of the soy-based meal replacement on biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk including glucoregulatory function (glucose, insulin), inflammation (C-reactive protein, IL-6), blood pressure and lipids (HDL, LDL, TC, TG). 3. To estimate the variability of and obtain preliminary estimates of the effect of the soy-based meal replacement on physical function (short physical performance battery, 400-m walk) and muscle strength (grip and knee extensor strength) and size (CT thigh muscle). 4. To document any adverse events associated with the soy-based meal replacement.
In this randomized controlled trial, we will examine the effect of a 3-month exercise training (aerobic exercise versus resistance exercise) without calorie restriction on total and regional adiposity, and risk of type 2 diabetes in overweight children and adolescents.
Obesity, a condition that occurs when a person has too much body fat, affects about 31% of people in the United States. It is associated with increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. Abdominal obesity, in particular, is also associated with low levels of growth hormone, a hormone that affects rate of growth and the way the body uses energy. Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) is a substance that makes the body naturally increase its own growth hormone levels. Administering GHRH to people who are obese may help return their growth hormone levels to normal and, in turn, may lead to reduced abdominal fat and improved cardiovascular function. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of synthetic GHRH in decreasing the amount of abdominal fat and improving cardiovascular function in people who are obese.
Reductions in fat oxidation and resting metabolic rate (RMR) are associated with normal aging and are accelerated with menopause. As a result, postmenopausal women have an increased risk of abdominal obesity and ultimately the metabolic complications that lead to the insulin resistance syndrome and its associated risks (hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease). Thus, there is a need to determine the most successful treatment to reduce visceral obesity in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study is to determine if dietary-induced weight loss alone and/or weight loss combined with exercise at low and high- intensities differentially affect the reduction in visceral adipose tissue in postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity.
The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of two different combination therapies for high blood pressure on vascular health.
People with HIV experience earlier impairments in physical function compared to people in the general population. They also exhibit an earlier presentation and more rapid development of frailty, a multisystemic syndrome of aging characterized by reduced activity, fatigue, slowness, weakness, and weight loss. While exercise can improve physical function in people with HIV, it is less effective in doing so than in the general population and is difficult to sustain in the long-term. The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether the medication tesamorelin will improve physical function and muscle health in adults with HIV when combined with exercise. Tesamorelin is a growth hormone-releasing hormone analogue that is FDA-approved to treat abdominal fat accumulation in people with HIV. While tesamorelin has also been shown to increase muscle mass and improve measures of muscle health, its effects on physical performance and muscle strength have not yet been evaluated. During a 24-week intervention phase, half of participants will be randomly assigned to receive tesamorelin and half of participants will be randomly assigned to receive placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug). All participants also will engage in a home-based exercise intervention supervised by an exercise coach. During a subsequent 24-week extension phase, individuals will be monitored off study drug and supervised exercise, and be encouraged to continue to exercise independently. The investigators will investigate effects of tesamorelin on physical function, muscle mass and quality, quality of life, and exercise adherence and self-efficacy. They also will evaluate whether effects of tesamorelin are maintained following treatment cessation. This study may identify an important strategy to improve how individuals aging with HIV function and feel with potential applications to other patient populations.
This is a prospective collection of data from adult patients who have had an endoscopic metabolic and bariatric endoscopy procedure (EMBT) for primary or revision surgical procedures for obesity.
The aim of this study is to develop an intervention that will produce a sustained improvement in physical activity and chronic stress as a means to slow the menopause-related accumulation of visceral adipose tissue in mid-life women.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of two different non-energy restricted controlled carbohydrate programs with the American Diabetes Associations' diet on glycosylated hemoglobin and other diabetes risk factors in obese adolescents with metabolic syndrome, a constellation of symptoms associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
This pilot study will test the acceptability and feasibility of a sleep extension intervention in community-dwelling, short-sleeping, racially/ethnically diverse middle-aged adults with MetS. Baseline sleep habits will be assessed and used to guide individualized strategies to extend sleep. A 1-group pretest-posttest study design will test the efficacy of this 18-week study (2 weeks of baseline data collection, 1 week of study intervention planning, 12 weeks of sleep intervention delivery, final follow up 3 weeks after last day of the 12-week intervention) on sleep duration, MetS risk behaviors (reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behavior, poor diet quality), symptoms associated with MetS risk behaviors (poor affective well-being, fatigue), and self-regulation. Socio-ecological barriers and facilitators to the intervention will be identified using a quantitative and qualitative approac
There is an ongoing and worsening problem with obesity in the developed, and much of the developing world. Although it has long been realized that Western diets that are rich in sugar and fat play an important role in this, it has only recently been realized that exposure to these diets, particularly in childhood, can damage the part of the brain that determines how much fat there is in the body. The result of this damage is that the so-called "set-point" for fat in this part of the brain is pushed upwards. There is a lot of evidence from animals that activating the brain's balance (vestibular) system pushes this set-point for fat downwards to cause fat loss, probably because this tricks the brain into thinking that the animal is more physically active. The aim of this study is to see whether the same effect can be triggered in humans by non-invasively stimulating the vestibular system with a small electrical current through the skin behind their ears.
This study is being done to understand the effects of calorie restriction and weight loss on muscle protein metabolism in adult men and women.