Obesity, Adolescent

Pediatric weight management efficacy is impacted by failure to complete treatment protocols and, for those that do complete treatment, a return to unhealthy behaviors. This project tests whether treating pain, a common comorbid condition to pediatric obesity, will enhance treatment. This study will generate results that can be translated into immediate improvements in care for families seeking treatment for pediatric obesity.

This is a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of intranasal oxytocin in youths with obesity, ages 10-18 years old. Subjects will be randomized to receive intranasal oxytocin or placebo (1 spray per nostril, 4 times per day) for 12 weeks. Study visits include screening to determine eligibility, 2-part main study visits at baseline, week 8, and week 12, and safety check-in visits at weeks 1, and 4; phone calls at weeks 2, 6, and 10, with a safety follow-up visit 6 weeks after the last dose of study drug. Study procedures include appetite, behavioral, metabolic, and endocrine assessments.

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-modal digital intervention, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), in promoting healthy weight control behaviors among overweight and obese adolescents. This study also aims to reduce the risk of unhealthy weight control behaviors by leveraging artificial intelligence-driven coaching, interactive platforms, gamified applications, and real-time feedback mechanisms. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Can a multi-modal digital intervention effectively modify adolescents' primary beliefs underlying TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control)? 2. How do TPB constructs influence weight control intentions, and how do these intentions translate into either healthy or unhealthy weight control behaviors? What role do adolescents' body image, body satisfaction, and mental health play in moderating the relationship between weight control intention and behavior? Participants will: 1. Be adolescents aged 12-18 years with a BMI ≥ 85th percentile. 2. Be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (multi-modal digital intervention) or the control group (general health education). 3. Engage in AI-driven coaching, interactive digital sessions, and gamified experiences tailored to TPB constructs. 4. Complete biweekly sessions over a period of three months (each session lasting two hours). 5. Receive personalized feedback and real-time monitoring through the Virti platform. 6. Participate in follow-up assessments at one month and three months post-intervention. Researchers will compare the intervention group to the control group to determine whether the multi-modal digital intervention leads to a higher adoption of healthy weight control behaviors and a lower prevalence of unhealthy weight control behaviors.

The Childhood Hypertension Consortium of South Africa (CHCSA) was established to foster relationships between the healthcare sector and schools through community engagement and outreach as well as contributing to the decolonization of normative paediatric blood pressure reference values. To date, there has been no nation-wide project in South Africa to determine nationally representative normal blood pressure reference values, nor to estimate the true prevalence of hypertension in the paediatric population of the country. This study will provide critical information on the understanding of blood pressure and hypertension in children, especially of African ancestry. Not only will this effort contribute to the development of the first nationally representative normal reference values of blood pressure but will also benefit healthcare providers in the sector with a clear guideline on the management of high blood pressure in children as developed by experts working with these challenges daily.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether replacing sugary sodas with unsweetened, flavored sparkling waters can reduce added sugar intake and improve health in Black/African American and Latine adolescents with obesity who prefer sweet-tasting beverages. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does replacing sugary sodas with water change liking for sugary drinks, and water? * Do shifts in liking for sweetness lead to improved diet quality and cardiometabolic health? Researchers will compare replacing sugary sodas with one of three alternative beverages: unsweetened sparkling water, plain water, and beverages with gradually reduced sugar to determine which strategy is most effective. Participants will: * Replace sugary sodas with study drinks for 4 weeks * Complete taste tests to measure their liking for and sensory experience of sweetness over 8-weeks * Provide dietary recalls, body measurements, and blood samples over 8-weeks

The overarching goal of this work is to address the limited access to evidence-based health behavior and lifestyle interventions for youth and families most impacted by preventable chronic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. In the current project, we implement a small single-arm pilot and feasibility trial of Health Without Barriers/Salud Sin Barreras (HWB/SSB), a culturally-adapted, whole-family intensive health behavior and lifestyle intervention to 11-19-year-old adolescents and their families living in Northern Colorado. Objectives are refining the HWB/SSB community facilitator training, evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of HWB/SSB implementation, and characterizing changes in health outcomes among adolescent participants.

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of preoperative Saxenda (liraglutide). There are two groups, one group receives Saxena in addition to dietary measures when first seeking the operation, one group only diet. The investigator is researching how much additional preoperative weight loss is possible with the drug admitted preoperatively.

Investigators will conduct a two-group randomized waitlist-control trial to assess the efficacy of the Wakaya: Rising Up for Choctaw Youth Health program on improving physical activity, reducing sedentary behaviors and improving healthful eating habits as well as delaying or reducing alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. Wakaya is an experiential, outdoor, nature-based program grounded in Choctaw values. It is a multi-level intervention that increases individual motivation and leadership skills to make healthy behavioral choices for behavior and exercise.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether music or midazolam has a greater anxiolytic effect on obese patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. It will also determine the safety of music compared to midazolam in this population (differences in blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation). The main question to answer: Music or midazolam is more effective in reducing anxiety in obese patients under spinal anesthesia?

The goal of this cluster randomized controlled pilot trial is to assess the feasibility and effect of a school-based nutrition intervention program called "Nutrition Goes to School" (NGTS) in improving a healthy diet and physical activities as part of the prevention and management of obesity among adolescents in urban Indonesia. The main questions it aims to answer concern the feasibility of the NGTS multi-component school-based nutrition intervention model in selected secondary schools in an urban setting to inform the design of the future effectiveness study. Additionally, it aims to evaluate the effect of the school-based nutrition intervention in the healthy eating knowledge and behavior (fruit and vegetable consumption, energy-dense nutrient poor food, and sugary beverages consumption, as measured by food frequency questionnaire) and physical activities as well as its effect on nutrition status (body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference \[MUAC\] and waist circumference). The intervention components consist of nutrition education to school communities (teachers, management, students and parents), healthy school canteen, school garden, hygiene and sanitation promotion of the school environment and obesogenic environment control, and promotion of physical activities among students. Five secondary schools in Jakarta will be randomly assigned to receive the intervention for 6 months, and five other schools will serve as the control group.

Obesity affects 3%-4% of the pediatric population and leads to cardiac mortality during adult life. Bariatric surgery is the best treatment for weight loss and preventing obesity associated comorbidities in adults, but its applications and safety are yet to be defined for adolescents.