Can virtual health coaches help kids lose weight?
NCT ID NCT06078774
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a new way to help children with obesity by replacing some in-person doctor visits with virtual house calls. Ten children aged 9-13 and their parents worked with a health coach through video calls and exercise sessions over 24 weeks. The goal was to see if families would stick with the program and find it helpful.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Virtual health coaching and telehealth visits
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a more convenient and effective way to help children with obesity manage their weight from home.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small pilot study with only 10 participants, so results may not apply to larger groups. The program requires significant time and commitment from families.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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10 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2024
- Finished
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Aug 2024
- 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.
- Ages
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9 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Children: * Ages 9-13 years * BMI 85th to \<99th percentile * Must be a patient within Health System Pediatric Primary Care * Must be English or Spanish speaking Parent: -Must be English or Spanish speaking Exclusion Criteria: Children: * Cannot have an emotional, social, or physical disability that would prevent them from participating in the protocol * Non-English or Non-Spanish speaking * Cannot have a medical condition resulting in unintentional weight gain (i.e. Prader Willi) * Females cannot be pregnant * In addition, children will potentially be excluded from participation if they have a positive screen during an interview led pre-screening eating disorder questionnaire Parent: -Non-English or Non-Spanish speaking
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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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Virginia Commonwealth Universiy
Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States
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