Reduced-Calorie Diet for Obesity
(Lower CD Trial)
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are taking weight loss medication, you cannot participate in the trial.
What data supports the effectiveness of a reduced-calorie diet treatment for obesity?
Is a reduced-calorie diet safe for treating obesity?
Very low-calorie diets (VLCDs) have been used for about ten years and are generally safe when patients are properly selected, given high-quality protein supplements, and monitored by healthcare professionals. However, there have been concerns about safety, especially when liquid protein diets were sold over the counter, which were linked to deaths. Proper monitoring and support are crucial to ensure safety.678910
How does the reduced-calorie diet treatment for obesity differ from other treatments?
The reduced-calorie diet treatment for obesity is unique because it focuses on significant caloric restriction, often under medical supervision, which can lead to rapid weight loss. Unlike other treatments, it emphasizes a very-low-calorie diet (400 to 800 kcal/d) combined with behavior modification to help maintain weight loss over time.1112131415
What is the purpose of this trial?
For weight loss to occur, energy intake needs to be reduced to incur an energy deficit. One dietary strategy that may facilitate reducing energy intake and enhancing weight loss is consuming a diet low in dietary energy density (ED). The ED of a given food, defined as the ratio of energy of the food to the weight of the food (kcal/g), is largely determined by water content, but is also affected by fat and fiber. Although the 2010 Dietary Guidelines encourage an eating pattern low in energy density (ED) to manage weight, it is currently not known what the best strategy is for reducing ED in the diet. Eating a greater number of foods low in ED or reducing the number of foods high in ED may reduce overall dietary ED. As ED is believed to reduce intake by allowing a greater weight of food relative to total energy consumed assisting with enhancing feelings of fullness, it is anticipated that either increasing consumption of low-ED foods in the diet alone or combining an increase in consumption of low-ED foods with a decrease in consumption of high-ED foods may be the best strategies for reducing overall dietary ED for weight loss.
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults aged 18-65 with a BMI of 27-45 kg/m2 who are not currently in a weight loss program or taking weight loss meds, haven't lost more than 5% body weight recently, don't have major heart conditions or psychiatric diseases, aren't pregnant or post-partum within six months, and can walk two blocks without stopping.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants follow a diet low in dietary energy density for weight loss
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in weight, dietary intake, and physical activity
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Common components of intervention
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Lead Sponsor