Physical and Behavioral Traits of Overweight and Obese Adults
Study of the Phenotype of Overweight and Obese Adults
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 18 Years to 100 Years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
- Time periods mentioned: 18 years
- Procedures mentioned: X-rays
Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.
Show the study's own words
- "People over 18 years of age from all weight categories (lean, overweight, obese) who are reasonably healthy may be eligible for this study."
- "Lean individuals will be recruited to create a normative database for body composition (dual energy x-ray absortiometry, air displacement plethysmography), energy expenditure (resting energy expenditure, 24h respiratory chamber and doubly labeled water) and other techniques used to study traits of importance."
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
This study will describe the phenotype (physical and behavioral traits) of overweight and obese people. It will characterize the hormones, metabolism, food preferences, fitness and physical activity levels, sleep patterns and thought processes in people with and without weight problems. Genetic material will be collected for studies of the internal codes that influence body weight. People over 18 years of age from all weight categories (lean, overweight, obese) who are reasonably healthy may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: * Physical exam, electrocardiogram, blood and urine tests, instructions for recording food intake for 7 days * Metabolic studies for menstruating women. * Resting metabolic rate to study how many calories the body burns at rest. * Mixed meal test to measure hormones such as insulin that regulate blood sugar. * Glucose tolerance test to determine how sensitive the body is to insulin. * 24-hour energy expenditure to measure the amount of oxygen breathed in and the amount of carbon dioxide breathed out. * Repeat 24-hour energy expenditure. * Diurnal blood sampling and temperature assessment to study the body s internal clock. * Air-displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod) to measure body composition. * Dual energy x-ray absortiometry (DEXA) to measure body fat and bone density. * Repeat Bod Pod and DEXA. * Anthropometric measurements and bioelectrical impedance to measure height, weight, and circumferences, skinfold thickness, fluid status and percentage body fat. * Bromide dilution to measure the amount of water not in cells in the body. * Doubly labeled water to measure the amount of calories burned in a 7-day period. * 24-hour diet reports. * Endothelial reactivity to measure how the blood vessels stretch or dilate for assessing cardiovascular health. * Treadmill or bicycle exercise capacity test. * Physical activity monitor. * Unicorder to detect any breathing difficulties that may interfere with sleep. * Fat and muscle biopsy to look for variations in gene expression in fat tissue and muscle. * Neurocognitive testing to check memory, decision-making, hand-eye coordination, and reasoning. * Evaluation of mood problems and assess personality type. * Evaluation to assess the quantity and quality of pain experienced. * Taste testing to determine the response to bitter, salty, sweet and sour substances. * Occupational therapy evaluation to explore the subject's adaptations, if any, for performing personal, social or professional activities; the subject's views on his or her weight, body size and shape, and strategies to control weight.
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Official eligibility criteria
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Obese subjects: 1. Obese men and women over the age of 18 years 2. BMI \> 30 Overweight subjects: 1. Overweight men and women over the age of 18 years 2. BMI \> 25 and \< 30 Control subjects (may be matched for age, sex and years of education): 1. Normal weight men and women over the age of 18 years 2. BMI \> 18.5 and \< 25 EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients with significant physical limitations that may preclude them from completing the majority of the tests in this study 2. Current unstable medical conditions including cardiac ischemia, severe respiratory insufficiency requiring oxygen therapy, hepatic or cardiac failure as assessed by history and physical exam 3. Any psychiatric condition that would preclude participation in the study 4. Patients unwilling or unable to give informed consent 5. Pregnant woman. Additional exclusion for lean control subjects: 1. Previous history of obesity as an adolescent or adult 2. Current or past history of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia The NIH Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office will receive inquiries from interested study subjects. Pre-screening by this office will exclude patients who require more than minimal assistance to complete activities of daily living in order to select subjects who can safely participate in the full phenotyping protocol. All others will be contacted by the protocol team to review exclusion criteria. Eligible patients will be invited to Clinical Research Center for a screening visit.
Study sites (1)
MD
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center · Bethesda, MD 20892For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR) · Study contact · 800-411-1222 ext. TTY dial 711 · ccopr@nih.govMore trials in Bethesda