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Study Overview

The Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC) is investigating how exercise and diet quality affect the health of adolescents with obesity.

Study Eligibility

Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years with obesity who are enrolled in the weight management program at Center for Obesity and its Consequences in Health (COACH) clinic at the Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH).

Study Requirements

Participants enrolled in this study will be randomly assigned to one of four groups:

• Standard of care group: will receive standard of care (SOC) for obesity at the COACH clinic.
• Dietary group: in addition to SOC, will receive dietary coaching and participate in 12 weeks of daily dietary enrichment with a blend of fruits and vegetables.
• Exercise group: in addition to SOC, will receive motivational physical activity coaching and join a 12-week exercise training program (3 days/week, 60 minutes/session).
• Dietary and Exercise group: in addition to SOC, will participate in a combined exercise and dietary program, as described in the previous two groups.

Visits

Participants in all groups will attend 3 study assessment visits. The first visit will take place during the week before the program starts. The second visit will take place about halfway through the program (around week 6). The third visit will take place during the final week of the program through the week after the program ends. In total, study participation will last about 14 weeks. These visits may last up to 6 hours. Participants may also complete an optional extra assessment day at the beginning and end of the study that takes about 5 hours to measure how their body uses fat and sugar for energy while resting.

In addition to these assessment visits, participants may have additional in-person study visits at ACNC if they are assigned to the exercise, diet, or exercise plus diet group. The total number of study visits per week will range from one to four, depending on group assignment.

During the study visit we will:

• Collect blood samples: around 2 teaspoons.
• Collect stool and urine samples.
• Ask questions about your child’s health, sleep, diet, physical activity, and background
• Measure your child’s lean, fat, and bone tissue using a DXA scan. 
• Perform a finger skin scan to estimate fruit and vegetable intake.
• Assess blood vessel and liver function using different imaging techniques, such as ultrasound.
• Assess aerobic capacity and muscle strength using various physical fitness tests.
• Measure gas exchange during resting breathing using a face tent to determine resting metabolic rate.
• Ask your child to wear a fitness and sleep tracker for a week to monitor their physical activity levels and sleep patterns. A small sensor will also be placed on the back of their upper arm or on their abdomen to monitor their blood sugar.

Participants will be compensated between $425 and $900, depending on the group to which they will be assigned and the study assessments in which they take part.