A virtual dietary education program to prevent weight gain in children with leukemia

A Bilingual Virtually-based Intervention (PEDALL) for the Prevention of Weight Gain in Childhood ALL Patients Considering Key Genetic and Sociodemographic Risk Factors

NA · Columbia University · NCT05963971

This study is testing a virtual nutrition program to see if it can help children with leukemia avoid gaining weight while they are receiving treatment.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment376 (estimated)
Ages5 Years to 21 Years
SexAll
SponsorColumbia University (other)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (New York, New York)
Trial IDNCT05963971 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a six-month virtually delivered dietary education intervention called PEDALL aimed at preventing overweight and obesity in children and adolescents undergoing maintenance chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Participants will be randomized to receive either the PEDALL intervention or standard care, with the PEDALL group receiving 26 hours of specialized nutrition education and counseling in English or Spanish. The study focuses on children and adolescents who are healthy weight at diagnosis, as they are at the highest risk for weight gain during treatment. The intervention seeks to address the significant clinical ramifications associated with obesity in this population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and adolescents aged 5-21 years with a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are healthy weight at baseline and fluent in English or Spanish.

Not a fit: Patients on nutrition support or with a history of eating disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce the incidence of obesity in childhood cancer survivors, improving long-term health outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with dietary interventions in similar populations, indicating potential for positive outcomes with this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: 5-21 years old at enrollment
* Diagnosis and Treatment: Plan to receive or are receiving maintenance or continuation chemotherapy for B- or T-cell ALL, or mixed phenotype acute leukemia.
* Timing: Patient is eligible for entry only if it is feasible to start the study intervention during the first month of the maintenance phase of ALL therapy.
* Language: Fluency in English or Spanish
* Weight Status: Healthy weight at baseline as determined by BMI z-score \< 1.04 and \>-1.04 for those under 5-18, and BMI between 19 and 25 for those \>18.
* Ethnicity: Hispanic or Non-Hispanic of any race.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients on nutrition support (enteral or parenteral nutrition)
* Patients with a history of eating disorder

Where this trial is running

New York, New York

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Obesity, Childhood Cancer

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.