Long-term phentermine for weight loss and heart health
1/2, Clinical Coordinating Center for the Long-term Effectiveness of the Anti-obesity medication Phentermine: the LEAP Trial
This project looks at whether taking phentermine long-term together with lifestyle support helps adults with obesity lose weight and keep it off without increasing heart-related problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181245 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a multi-center program where adults with obesity take phentermine alongside lifestyle counseling and are followed over time. The team will track your weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and other health measures while recording any side effects. Visits and check-ins will happen at one of five U.S. clinical centers that coordinate care and collect study data. The aim is to see if an affordable, commonly used medication can safely help people maintain weight loss long-term.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older with obesity, including those with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are pregnant, have medical contraindications to phentermine, or prefer non-medication weight-loss approaches may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could show an affordable medicine plus lifestyle support helps people keep weight off while monitoring cardiovascular safety.
How similar studies have performed: Short-term studies show phentermine can produce early weight loss, but there are no high-quality randomized trials testing its safety and effectiveness when used long-term.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, Kristina H — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lewis, Kristina H
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 below.