Medications + WeightWatchers for Obesity

(Meds WOW-WW Trial)

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Rebecca A Jones, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Michelle Cardel, PhD, MS, RD

Must be taking: Bupropion/Naltrexone, Liraglutide

Must not be taking: Bupropion, Naltrexone, Opioids

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Uncontrolled hypertension, Seizures, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the effectiveness of weight management medications alone versus in combination with WeightWatchers support for individuals with obesity. The main aim is to measure weight loss over 12 weeks. Suitable participants include adults with a BMI over 30, or over 27 with related health issues such as high blood pressure or sleep apnea, who are already taking specific weight management medications. As an unphased trial, this study provides participants the chance to contribute to valuable research that could improve future obesity treatments.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking certain medications, such as bupropion, naltrexone, opioids, and other anti-obesity medications, before participating. If you're on these medications, you may need to stop them to join the study.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that WeightWatchers is generally safe for participants. Studies have found that people using WeightWatchers can lose a significant amount of weight. For example, one study showed that participants lost between 3.1% and 5.5% of their body weight after 12 months.

While these studies mainly focus on weight loss, they also examine safety. The available data does not report any serious safety issues with WeightWatchers. The program has been used for a long time, and its safety for weight management is well-known.

Overall, WeightWatchers is considered easy to tolerate, and some studies have noted improvements in quality of life. It is always important to consult a healthcare provider before starting any new program to ensure it meets individual health needs. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about integrating WeightWatchers with medication for obesity because it combines lifestyle support with medical treatment, offering a holistic approach. Unlike standard treatments that often focus solely on medication or lifestyle changes alone, this method provides structured behavioral support that can help sustain long-term weight loss. The WeightWatchers component adds a personalized and community-driven aspect, which can enhance motivation and adherence, potentially leading to better outcomes than medication alone. This integrated approach aims to address both the physical and behavioral aspects of obesity, providing a comprehensive pathway to health.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for obesity?

Research has shown that WeightWatchers can significantly aid in weight loss. One study found that members of the WeightWatchers Clinic lost an average of 21% of their body weight in a year. In this trial, participants in the "Meds plus WW" arm will receive behavioral or lifestyle support from WeightWatchers alongside their medications. Another study found that individuals who combined WeightWatchers with medical treatments lost 11% more weight than those without additional support. These findings suggest that WeightWatchers can effectively help people lose weight and maintain their weight loss. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Rebecca Jones, PhD

Principal Investigator

WW International Inc

Michelle Cardel, PhD, RD

Principal Investigator

WW International Inc

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with obesity (BMI >30) or overweight (BMI >27) with related health issues like high blood pressure. They must be starting a weight management medication plan approved by WW Clinic, without recent significant weight loss, no history of eating disorders, surgical obesity treatment, seizures, glaucoma, or certain chronic diseases.

Inclusion Criteria

I am approved for and have started a plan with Bupropion/Naltrexone or Liraglutide.

My BMI is over 30, or it's over 27 with a condition like high blood pressure or heart disease.

Exclusion Criteria

I have had surgery for obesity.

I have used vomiting or laxatives to control my weight in the last month.

I have a history of glaucoma.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive weight management medications with or without behavioral and lifestyle support

12 weeks

Regular virtual check-ins

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• WeightWatchers

Trial Overview The study tests if taking weight management medications alone is as effective as combining them with behavioral and lifestyle support from WeightWatchers. The main goal is to see how much body weight participants lose after 12 weeks.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Meds plus WW Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group receive behavioral or lifestyle support from WW Clinic alongside their medications. The medications are not part of the intervention (it is part of the eligibility criteria).

Group II: Meds alone Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this group do not receive behavioral or lifestyle support alongside their medications. The medications are not part of the intervention (it is part of the eligibility criteria).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Michelle Cardel, PhD, MS, RD

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2

Recruited

330+

Citations

1. corporate.ww.com corporate.ww.com/news/news-details/2025/WeightWatchers-for-Business-Annual-Report-Shows-Breakthrough-Weight-Loss-Results-and-Health-Outcomes/default.aspx

WeightWatchers for Business Annual Report Shows ... Superior weight loss outcomes: In a recent WeightWatchers Clinic study, members lost 21% of their body weight at 12 months, outperforming ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3657569/

Combining behavioral weight loss treatment and a ... In sum, this study showed that the WW group achieved greater mean weight losses at 48 weeks compared to the CT group and that more than one third of WW group ...

3. finance.yahoo.com finance.yahoo.com/news/weightwatchers-business-annual-report-shows-150500627.html

WeightWatchers for Business Annual Report Shows ... Superior weight loss outcomes: In a recent WeightWatchers Clinic study, members lost 21% of their body weight at 12 months, outperforming ...

4. business.weightwatchers.com business.weightwatchers.com/2024/weightwatchers-publishes-new-research-on-weight-health-and-shifting-attitudes-in-the-workplace

New Research on Workplace Weight Health Notably, findings revealed members who combined clinical and behavioral interventions lost 11% more weight. WeightWatchers for Business delivers ...

5. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18042306/

Weight-loss maintenance 1, 2 and 5 years after successful ... The percentage of participants who remained below their goal weight 1, 2 and 5 years after completion of the programme was 26.5, 20.5, and 16.2, respectively.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8159888/

Commercial weight-loss programs in the management of ... Published RCTs have demonstrated that WW participants participating in the in-person program achieved weight losses ranging between 3.1 to 5.5% at 12 months, ...

7. business.weightwatchers.com business.weightwatchers.com/how-it-works

Employee weight health platform Weight loss program ... 3 In a study of 3,260 WW Clinic patients, patients that were prescribed a GLP-1 lost on average 21% of their body weight at 12 months. See important GLP-1 ...

8. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03079128

Evaluation of a Commercial Program on Weight Loss and ... There is a body of evidence that has evaluated the effect of Weight Watchers, a commercially available weight loss program, on changes in body weight.