120 Participants Needed

Lifestyle Counseling + Medication for Childhood Obesity

(QUEST Trial)

AK
Overseen ByAaron Kelly, PhD
Stay on Your Current MedsYou can continue your current medications while participating
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Prior Safety DataThis treatment has passed at least one previous human trial
Approved in 5 JurisdictionsThis treatment is already approved in other countries

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial compares two treatments for adolescents with severe obesity. One group receives many counseling sessions to help change their habits, while the other group receives fewer sessions but also takes a medication to help control their appetite. The medication has been shown to promote weight loss by suppressing appetite and controlling eating habits.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you have used anti-obesity medications in the last 6 months.

Is the treatment of lifestyle counseling and medication for childhood obesity safe?

The safety of medications like liraglutide (Saxenda) for obesity has been evaluated, and while they are approved for use, they come with potential side effects. Regulatory agencies like the FDA require safety trials and monitor for serious side effects, such as cardiovascular issues, to ensure these medications are safe for use.12345

How does the drug used in the Lifestyle Counseling + Medication for Childhood Obesity trial differ from other treatments for childhood obesity?

This treatment combines lifestyle counseling with newer anti-obesity medications that have shown more significant weight loss results (5-18% improvement) compared to traditional methods, which typically achieve only 1-3% improvement. These medications are part of a newer class of drugs that are not yet widely used in children, offering a novel approach to managing childhood obesity.16789

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug treatment for childhood obesity?

The research highlights a gap in effective drug treatments for pediatric obesity, with limited FDA-approved options and modest effects from single drugs. However, combination drug therapies, which have shown greater weight loss in adults, may offer better outcomes for children as well.110111213

Who Is on the Research Team?

AK

Aaron Kelly, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Minnesota

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 with severe obesity, defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age. They must not have diabetes, recent use of anti-obesity drugs, past bariatric surgery, certain psychiatric conditions, or be pregnant among other exclusions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am severely obese according to BMI standards.
I am between 12 and 17 years old and have started puberty.

Exclusion Criteria

Medically-documented history of bulimia nervosa
I have diabetes (type 1 or 2).
I have been treated with growth hormone in the past.
See 18 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intensive Behavioral Program

Participants receive 52 weeks of intensive behavioral therapy, with 52 contact hours (50% in person and 50% virtual)

52 weeks
52 visits (26 in-person, 26 virtual)

Medication Arm

Participants receive semaglutide and 12 monthly sessions of behavioral therapy (50% in person and 50% virtual)

52 weeks
12 visits (6 in-person, 6 virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Intensive Behavioral Program
  • Liraglutide
  • Semaglutide
Trial Overview The trial is testing whether semaglutide medication combined with a behavioral program can help manage weight in obese adolescents more effectively and sustainably compared to an intensive behavioral program alone.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Active Control
Group I: Intensive Behavioral Program ArmActive Control1 Intervention
Participants randomized to this arm of the study will receive intensive behavioral therapy. Participants will receive 52 weekly sessions (50% in person and 50% virtual).
Group II: Medication ArmActive Control1 Intervention
Participants randomized to this arm of the study will receive semaglutide and will receive behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy will consist of 12 monthly sessions (50% in person and 50% virtual).

Intensive Behavioral Program is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan for the following indications:

🇪🇺
Approved in European Union as Victoza for:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Chronic obesity
🇺🇸
Approved in United States as Victoza/Saxenda for:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Chronic obesity in adults and adolescents aged 12-17 years
🇨🇦
Approved in Canada as Victoza/Saxenda for:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Chronic obesity
🇯🇵
Approved in Japan as Victoza/Saxenda for:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Chronic obesity

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,459
Recruited
1,623,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study analyzing 38,539 pediatric visits, it was found that children prescribed psychotropic medications were more likely to have obesity identified during their visits, with an odds ratio of 5.2, indicating a significant association between these medications and obesity identification.
Despite the increased risk of weight gain in children on psychotropic medications, only 11.4% received dietary counseling, highlighting a gap in care and the need for better management of obesity in this population.
Identification and counseling for obesity among children on psychotropic medications in ambulatory settings.Eneli, IU., Wang, W., Kelleher, K.[2013]
Effective treatment for childhood and adolescent obesity requires a comprehensive initial assessment, including medical history and physical examination, with management strategies focusing on comorbidities, family involvement, and behavior change techniques.
Medications like Orlistat and Metformin can support lifestyle changes in severely obese adolescents and those with insulin resistance, respectively, while bariatric surgery may be an option for severely obese patients, emphasizing the need for specialized care in experienced centers.
Assessment and management of obesity in childhood and adolescence.Baur, LA., Hazelton, B., Shrewsbury, VA.[2021]
Combination pharmacotherapy, such as using phentermine and topiramate together, may provide better weight loss results for pediatric patients with obesity compared to single-agent treatments, which often have limited efficacy.
This case report of a 10-year-old girl illustrates the potential benefits of combining medications after lifestyle modifications were insufficient, highlighting the need for more effective treatment options in pediatric obesity.
The Potential Role of Combination Pharmacotherapy to Improve Outcomes of Pediatric Obesity: A Case Report and Discussion.Fox, CK., Kelly, AS.[2020]

Citations

Identification and counseling for obesity among children on psychotropic medications in ambulatory settings. [2013]
Assessment and management of obesity in childhood and adolescence. [2021]
The Potential Role of Combination Pharmacotherapy to Improve Outcomes of Pediatric Obesity: A Case Report and Discussion. [2020]
Trends in pediatric obesity management, a survey from the Pediatric Endocrine Society Obesity Committee. [2021]
Clinical Considerations Regarding the Use of Obesity Pharmacotherapy in Adolescents with Obesity. [2023]
Pharmacotherapeutic options for overweight adolescents. [2018]
Meal replacements followed by topiramate for the treatment of adolescent severe obesity: A pilot randomized controlled trial. [2018]
Pharmacotherapy of Obesity: Clinical Trials to Clinical Practice. [2018]
Evolution of pharmacological obesity treatments: focus on adverse side-effect profiles. [2017]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Clinical review: Guide to pharmacological management in pediatric obesity medicine. [2023]
One-year effects of two intensive inpatient treatments for severely obese children and adolescents. [2023]
12.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Fundamentals of cardiometabolic risk factor reduction: achieving and maintaining weight loss with pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery. [2019]
13.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Medications as adjunct therapy for weight loss: approved and off-label agents in use. [2006]
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