Scientists investigate why some bodies fight weight change
NCT ID NCT06860776
First seen Jul 07, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study examines why some people with obesity find it hard to lose weight, while lean individuals struggle to gain weight. Researchers measure how the body uses energy during fasting and after a special low-protein meal. By comparing these responses, they aim to identify different metabolic types that influence weight control. The study involves simple tests and body measurements in 20 healthy volunteers.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could point toward more personalized weight management strategies tailored to an individual's metabolic type.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 20 participants, so findings may not apply broadly. It is observational and does not test any treatment.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2024
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Participants will be recruited from the general adult population, focusing on two specific groups: 1. Lean individuals (BMI 18.5-22.0 kg/m²) who struggle to gain weight 2. Individuals with obesity (BMI \>30 kg/m²) who struggle to lose weight All participants must be generally healthy, between 18 and 70 years old, and report a stable body weight (less than 5% fluctuation) in the last six months. Recruitment will occur via community outreach, advertisements, and existing volunteer registries. Potential participants with conditions or circumstances that could affect appetite, energy expenditure, or study compliance will be excluded.
- Ages
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18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Group 1 (Lean): BMI 18.5-22.0 kg/m², reporting difficulty gaining weight * Group 2 (Obese): BMI \>30 kg/m², reporting difficulty losing weight * Healthy status as determined by medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests * Stable weight (less than 5% fluctuation) over the past 6 months Exclusion Criteria: * Prediabetes (HbA1c \>5.6% or fasting blood glucose \>100 mg/dL) or diabetes mellitus * Conditions affecting appetite or energy expenditure (e.g., Cushing's syndrome, uncontrolled hyper-/hypothyroidism) * Gastrointestinal disorders that impact nutrient absorption (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption syndromes, ulcers) * Psychiatric conditions influencing eating behavior (e.g., active depression, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, borderline personality disorder) * Acute, unstable cardiovascular disease requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months (e.g., stent placement) * Cancer that required treatment in the past 5 years * Chronic kidney disease (Stage IV or higher, per NKF criteria) * Active infectious disease (e.g., HIV, hepatitis) * Current nicotine use or nicotine use within the last month prior to screening * Illicit drug use (e.g., amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana) * Regular high-intensity physical activity (≥1 hour/day) * Non-MRI-compatible metallic implants (e.g., artificial joints, metal plates) * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Use of weight-loss medications * Clinically significant claustrophobia * Any other condition not mentioned above that, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with study participation or compromise patient safety
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein
Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, 24105, Germany
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