DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
Center for Weight and Eating Disorders
CURRENTLY RECRUITING:
Brain Imaging and Treatment Studies of the Night Eating Syndrome
Dr. Kelly Allison and Dr. Albert Stunkard
We are recruiting participants for a research study who have night eating syndrome as well as healthy control participants. We are examining a neurotransmitter in the brain and its relationship to the effectiveness of a medication on symptoms of night eating syndrome. All participants will undergo an initial assessment and a brain scan. Compensation will be provided. Participants with night eating syndrome will then be administered a trial of a medication that is currently approved for treating depression and anxiety. For more information, call 215-573-5502 or e-mail Kelly Allison. To find out more about NES, go to our webpage for more information or to complete the Night Eating Questionnaire.
Lifestyle Modification versus Bariatric Surgery for Type 2 Diabetes
We are seeking men and women who are considering bariatric surgery for weight loss. To be eligible to participate in this research study, candidates must be at least 18 to 65 years of age, with a BMI of between 30 to 40 kg/m2 and have type 2 diabetes. Participants will be randomly assigned to: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery; Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding surgery; or an intensive nonsurgical weight loss program, which includes lifestyle modification, meal replacements, and potentially an FDA-approved weight loss medication which are all standard of care for obesity treatment. This study will compare the benefits of different bariatric surgeries to each other and to a non-surgical weight loss program in terms of both weight loss as well as improvements in type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Participation in the study involves visits to the Center for Translational Research at Hospital of University of Pennsylvania prior to having surgery or starting the intensive weight loss program, after a 10% weight loss, and at 6 and 12 months after the start of treatment. Participants will be compensated for their time.
Please contact Jacque Spitzer, Clinical Research Coordinator, at (215) 746-1281 to obtain more information about the study and find out if you are eligible to participate.
Treatment of Early Childhood Overweight in Primary Care: A Pilot Study
Dr. Myles Faith
The primary care setting provides an attractive option for families wishing to receive treatment for childhood overweight, yet little is known about the feasibility, acceptance or efficacy of this intervention setting. University of Pennsylvania’s CWED, in partnership with the Geisinger Medical Center’s Center for Health Research, will test two different primary care treatments intended to increase fruit and vegetable intake, increase physical activity, and reduce sedentary activity in overweight children ages 4-8. Both treatments involve the child and a parent/caregiver and both will be conducted over a four month period. Children ages 4-8 who have been identified by their pediatrician as being overweight (BMI >85th and <95th percentile for age) or obese (BMI >95th percentile) and who receive their primary care through the Geisinger Medical Center are invited to participate. One group will receive weekly mailings from their primary care pediatric clinic on healthy eating, benefits of fruit and vegetables, suggestions for increasing physical activity, and methods to reduce TV viewing time. The second group will receive a 15 session intervention in their home pediatric clinic that teaches specific behavioral strategies for increasing fruit and vegetable intake, reducing TV viewing and encouraging physical activity. Measurements will be taken before and after the intervention to check progress and evaluate treatment acceptance.
If you are interested in finding out more about this NIH-funded research study, contact Karen Hoffer at 215-746-6270.
Psychosocial Changes After Weight Loss
Dr. David Sarwer
We are currently seeking men and women between the ages of 18-65 who have been in a romantic, committed relationship for at least one year to participate in a study on psychosocial changes that occur after weight loss. Eligible people will participate in an evening weight loss program that will meet weekly for 16 weeks. Before beginning the program, and once per year for fours year after beginning the program, you will receive assessments including questionnaires and a blood test. You will receive compensation at each assessment point, and the weight loss treatment is free. Additional compensation may also be available.
If you are interested in learning more about this study, please call Laura at 215-898-3184 or e-mail: syla@mail.med.upenn.edu
Sibling Study
Dr. Tanja Kral
We are currently seeking same-sex siblings (both boys and girls) who are between 5 and 12 years of age and their mother to participate in a nutrition study which examines eating behavior among siblings.
The study involves 4 visits to our Center at 3535 Market Street. Test visits 1, 2 and 3 will last approximately 2 hours each and will be scheduled one evening a week for three weeks. The fourth visit will be scheduled during the day and will last approximately 1 hour. All meals and compensation are provided.
If interested, call 215-746-2061 (Option 1) for more information.
Breakfast Study
Dr. Myles Faith
We are currently seeking children (ages 8-10) and a parent/caretaker to participate in an eating and computer task study.
The study involves 3 visits to our Center. The first visit, a screening visit, will last approximately 45 min. Visits 2 and 3 will last approximately 4.5 hours (8:00AM – 12:30PM) each and will be scheduled one day a week for two weeks. Children will be asked to engage in game-like tasks requiring attention and memory after eating or skipping breakfast and to eat lunch in our Center. All meals and compensation are provided.
If interested, call Linda at 215-573-6481 for more information.
Weight Loss and Fertility Study
Dr. David Sarwer
We are currently seeking women between the ages of 18 and 45 who are overweight, are not on hormonal birth control, and are not planning on becoming pregnant in the next year to volunteer to participate in a behavioral weight loss study at the University of Pennsylvania. Previous research has shown that some women experience improvements in their markers of fertility after weight loss. This study will compare the fertility changes in women who lose weight through our behavioral weight loss treatment to women who lose weight through bariatric surgery. All behavioral weight loss participants will be assessed three times over the course of a year and will attend weight loss sessions over the course of 40 weeks at no cost. Participants will be in this study for one year.
If you are interested in learning more about this study, please call Miriam at 215-746-1281 or e-mail: emiriam@mail.med.upenn.edu.
Lifestyle Modification for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention in Overweight Youth
Dr. Myles Faith
The objective of this research study is to measure the effectiveness of a family-based intervention designed to reduce excess body weight, improve cardiovascular and metabolic profiles, and improve diet and physical activity in 4-8 year old children who are at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
We are currently recruiting 4-8 year old children who are overweight (BMI >85th and <95th percentile for age) or obese (BMI >95th percentile) and who have a close family member (parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, grandparent) who has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Parents and children will attend 16 sessions over a 6 month period. Both groups will receive nutritional counseling, with an emphasis on developing a physically active lifestyle and improving dietary habits. One group will also receive instruction on behavioral modification strategies and a “toolkit” of resources for home use to encourage physical activity. Each participant’s progress is tracked for six months following completion of the group sessions.
If you are interested in finding out more about this American Diabetes Association-sponsored study, contact the research coordinator, Karen Hoffer at 215-746-6270.
Beverage Choice and Lifestyle Modification in Overweight Youth
Dr. Myles Faith
The popularity and abundance of sugar sweetened beverages in children’s diets has led to concern that the high energy content of these beverages may be contributing to excess weight gain in some overweight youth. The objective of this NIH-sponsored research study is to measure the impact of a behavioral approach in modifying sweetened beverage intake and reducing excess weight gain in children.
Children 4-8 years of age who are overweight (BMI >85th and <95th percentile for age) or obese (BMI >95th percentile), consume ≥16 ounces of fruit juice or sugar sweetened beverages daily, and who have a parent or caregiver who interested in attending group sessions with them are invited to participate. Two groups of families will attend 16 sessions over a six month period. Nutrition counseling and family-based activities aimed at preventing excess weight gain and achieving healthier eating habits will be provided to both groups. Behavioral strategies will be incorporated into one treatment group’s intervention plan as well. Measurements will be taken pre and post intervention to track progress.
If you are interested in more information about this research study, contact Karen Hoffer at 215-746-6270.
Weight Loss Treatment Study for Adolescents
We are pleased to announce a weight loss treatment study for adolescents. This study is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. The study will provide all adolescents and their parents with 30 group behavioral treatment sessions focused on the development of healthy eating and exercise habits during a one-year period. All teens will follow a moderately low calorie diet of 1300-1500 calories and half of the teens will replace two meals and one snack a day with a Slim-Fast® shake while the other half will eat a diet of conventional foods. The study is designed to determine whether a meal replacement product such as Slim-Fast® can help adolescents achieve and maintain greater weight loss than a diet of conventional foods.
We are interested in enrolling overweight teenagers, between the ages of 13 to17, with a body mass index (BMI) between 28 and 50. We are planning to enroll 110 teens and their families in the program during the course of the next two years. For more information and to find out if your teen qualifies for the study, please call Joanna or Kate at 215-590-2296.
ONGOING RESEARCH (Closed to recruitment/recruiting from direct referrals):
Weight Loss in Type II Diabetes Study
Dr. Anthony Fabricatore
This research examines the outcomes of two dietary approaches to weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes. Both programs include group-based behavioral counseling and exercise recommendations. However, one program educates participants about a low-fat diet, and the other teaches how to follow a low glycemic load (GL) diet. This study, which is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, compares changes in weight and blood sugars over 40 weeks of treatment and an additional year of follow-up.
The Prevention Study
Dr. Myles S. Faith
The main objective of this NIH-funded study is to test the effects of three family-based interventions on increased fruit and vegetable intake and the prevention of excess weight gain in 4-7 year-old children who are at risk for overweight.
Behavioral Factors in the Surgical Treatment of Obesity
Dr. Thomas A. Wadden
This study is examining the effect of binge eating disorder on the outcome of weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery). Participants must have already elected to undergo surgery in order to participate. Diet and exercise counseling is available for persons with binge eating disorder who do not see bariatric surgery.
A Study of Two Weight Loss Approaches
Dr. Thomas Wadden
This study tests the outcomes of two dietary approaches to weight loss for overweight adults. The duration of treatment is 12-months.
Adolescent Obesity Study
Dr. Bob Berkowitz
The University of Pennsylvania's Center for Weight and Eating Disorders has been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study adolescent obesity. The program is enrolling teenagers ages 13-17 and their parents to join a free weight loss treatment study involving behavior modification and a weight loss medication.
Infant Growth Study
Dr. Myles Faith
This NIH-funded study was initiated 12 years ago to examine growth and development in children. The children in this study have been followed in their development of height and weight, accretion of bone and muscle mass, and emergence of eating patterns. In addition, various metabolic parameters which may be predictive of children's growth are being examined as well.
Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes)
Dr. Thomas A. Wadden
This 16-site, NIH-funded study will examine the benefits of a lifestyle intervention on overweight men and women with Type 2 Diabetes over 11 years (until 2012). The study is closed to new enrollment.
Postoperative Dietary Counseling After Bariatric Surgery
Dr. David Sarwer
We are conducting a study funded by the National Institutes of Health investigating the effects of postoperative dietary counseling after gastric bypass surgery. Participants in the study will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions. Half of the participants will receive standard postoperative care. This will included coming back to the surgeon's office for scheduled visits as well as the availability of the Program's support groups and website. Half will meet every other week, for 16 weeks after surgery, with the program dietician for 30 minutes. These sessions will be designed to help assist patients in adjusting to the postoperative diet. All participants will be followed for a total of 18 months. This study is no longer recruiting.