Tongue ultrasound for children and teens with obesity
Standardized Tongue Ultrasound Protocol for Tongue Characteristics in Children and Adolescents With Obesity After a 30-week Inpatient Weight Loss Program
For children and teens with obesity enrolled in a 30-week inpatient weight-loss program, this project uses ultrasound to see if tongue size, fat content, and stiffness relate to body measurements and sleep apnea and change after the program.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 6 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Brussels and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07370350 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational cohort of children and adolescents (6–18 years) with obesity who undergo standardized submental ultrasound at baseline and after a 30-week inpatient multidisciplinary weight-loss rehabilitation program. Ultrasound measures include tongue morphology, fat-related imaging biomarkers, and mechanical properties using shear-wave elastography. Anthropometric data and validated sleep-disordered breathing questionnaires are collected in parallel, and measurement reliability is tested. The study explores associations between ultrasound parameters, body measurements, and obstructive sleep apnea outcomes over time.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children and adolescents aged 6–18 years with a diagnosis of obesity who are already enrolled in the Zeepreventorium 30-week inpatient weight-loss rehabilitation program and whose guardians provide consent.
Not a fit: People without obesity, those not enrolled in the Zeepreventorium inpatient program, or those with cervicocephalic conditions or other contraindications to ultrasound are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could provide a noninvasive ultrasound way to identify and monitor tongue features linked to sleep apnea risk and response to weight loss in young people.
How similar studies have performed: Some adult and small pediatric studies have shown promising correlations between tongue ultrasound/elastography and fat or sleep-disordered breathing, but longitudinal validation during pediatric weight-loss programs remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years * Diagnosis of obesity * Already enrolled in the inpatient weight-loss rehabilitation program at the Zeepreventorium * Written informed consent from legal guardian and assent from the participant, following the legal requirements Exclusion Criteria: * Known orthopedic, traumatic, or rheumatologic conditions affecting the cervicocephalic region * Contraindication to ultrasound examination * Inability to comply with study procedures * Inability to understand the procedures
Where this trial is running
Brussels and 1 other locations
- ISEK-HE2B, av. Schalle 91 — Brussels, Belgium (Recruiting)
- Zeepreventorium Koninklijke Baan 5 — De Haan, Belgium (Not_yet_recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Frederic Paillaugue, MSc PT
- Email: frederic.paillaugue@vub.be
- Phone: +32485952930
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.