Daily self-weighing for adolescents with obesity

Self-weighing for Weight Management in Adolescents Seeking Obesity Treatment: A Randomized Pilot

Not applicable Interventional University of Minnesota · NCT04837586

This study is testing if daily self-weighing helps adolescents with obesity manage their weight better compared to usual care alone.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment99 (estimated)
Ages12 Years to 17 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Minnesota Academic / other
Locations1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Trial IDNCT04837586 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study involves 99 adolescents aged 12 to under 18 years with obesity, who will be randomized into three groups: usual care, usual care plus daily weighing on a simple scale, and usual care plus daily weighing on an EHR-connected scale. The study aims to assess the acceptability, safety, self-efficacy, and BMI changes over 12 weeks through surveys and qualitative interviews. By integrating self-weighing into routine care, the study seeks to enhance weight management strategies for adolescents. The clinic staff will also facilitate the connection of scales to the Epic electronic health record system to evaluate real-world feasibility.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents aged 12 to under 18 years with a BMI at or above the 95th percentile.

Not a fit: Patients with severe anxiety or depression, unhealthy weight control behaviors, or significant co-morbidities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve weight management and health outcomes for adolescents struggling with obesity.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that self-monitoring and self-weighing can be effective for weight loss in adults, suggesting potential applicability in adolescents.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Adolescent:

* Ages 12 to \< 18 years
* Body mass index (BMI) \>/= 95th percentile

Exclusion Criteria for Adolescent:

* Score over 20 on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26)
* Any unhealthy weight control behaviors
* Severe anxiety or depression
* Participation in another Pediatric Weight Management Clinic study
* Developmental delay
* Significant co-morbidity that might cause weight fluctuations in weight
* Current participation in a weight loss research study

Inclusion Criteria for Parent:

* Parent or legal guardian of the child participant
* Parent aged \> 18 years

Where this trial is running

Minneapolis, Minnesota

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.
Conditions Adolescent ObesityObesity
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.