Comparing counseling and medical management for treating severe obesity in adolescents

Comparison of Intensive Behavioral Counseling vs. Medical Management to Treat Adolescent Severe Obesity

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-10835876

This study is looking at whether a mix of friendly counseling and medication can help teenagers with severe obesity lose weight and feel healthier, and it’s designed to find practical ways for families to get support.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-10835876 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of intensive behavioral counseling versus medical management for adolescents suffering from severe obesity. It aims to determine whether a combination of low-intensity behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy can lead to significant weight loss and improved health outcomes. The study will involve multiple contact hours over a period of time, focusing on practical and sustainable treatment options for families. By evaluating these approaches, the research seeks to identify scalable solutions that can be implemented in various healthcare settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12-18 who are classified as severely obese.

Not a fit: Patients who are not classified as severely obese or those with conditions that contraindicate behavioral interventions may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide adolescents with effective, sustainable weight loss strategies that improve their overall health and well-being.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that intensive behavioral interventions can lead to weight loss in adolescents, but this study explores a novel combination approach that has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.