Helping people with PAD and obesity improve walking and prevent mobility loss
Official title: 1/2 + PROmote weight loss in obese PAD patients to preVEnt mobility loss: the PROVE Trial
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-10891372 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores if combining weight loss with walking exercise can better improve walking ability for people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) who are also overweight or obese.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $440,373 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3HL141729-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10891372 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) who are also overweight or obese (BMI > 28 kg/m2).
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or obese, or those without peripheral artery disease, would likely not benefit directly from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Many people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are also overweight or obese, which can make walking more difficult and lead to faster declines in mobility. While walking exercise is a common treatment for PAD, early findings suggest that adding weight loss might offer even greater benefits. This project will test if a special weight loss program, combined with exercise, can improve walking ability more effectively than exercise alone. The weight loss program includes group support, mobile technology, remote coaching, and a specific diet plan.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new and more effective way for overweight or obese PAD patients to improve their walking and maintain their independence.
How similar studies have gone: Observational data and a pilot study have shown promising results for combining weight loss with exercise in this population, but a full-scale test of this specific intervention is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdermott, Mary Mcgrae — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Mcdermott, Mary Mcgrae
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.