Understanding Healthy Obesity and Its Risks

Natural Course of Initially Metabolic Healthy Obese Individuals (Healthy Obesity)?

ETH Zurich · NCT06799897

This study looks at what makes some obese people healthy while others develop health problems, to see if understanding these differences can help improve their health.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment300 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 60 Years
SexAll
SponsorETH Zurich (other)
Locations1 site (Baden)
Trial IDNCT06799897 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to explore the factors that differentiate metabolically healthy obese individuals from those who develop metabolic diseases. It will involve a cross-sectional comparison to identify distinguishing characteristics and a longitudinal approach to track changes over time. The researchers hypothesize that alterations in adipose tissue regulation and composition contribute to the transition from healthy to unhealthy obesity. The findings could lead to new diagnostic tools for personalized risk assessment and innovative strategies to enhance metabolic health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 60 with a BMI between 30 and 50 who are metabolically healthy.

Not a fit: Patients with significant metabolic diseases or those who have undergone bariatric surgery may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights that help prevent the progression of obesity-related metabolic diseases.

How similar studies have performed: While the concept of healthy obesity is being explored, this study's specific approach to understanding its natural course is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Signed Informed Consent Form
* Age between 18 and 60 years
* BMI 30-50 kg/m2
* Knowledge of German, which requires sufficient written and allow oral patient education

Inclusion criteria for initially healthy group

* Blood pressure \< 140/90 mmHg
* Normal glucose metabolism

  * HbA1c \< 6.5 %
  * Fasting Glucose \< 7.0 mmol/l
* Normal lipid metabolism

  o LDL-cholesterol \< 5.0 mmol/l
* ≤ 2 of the following metabolic syndrome criteria combined (excluding waist circumference)
* TG \> 1.7 mmol/l
* HDL-cholesterol \> 1.0 mmol/l (male) / \> 1.3 mmol/l (female)
* Fasting glucose ≥ 5.6 mmol/l
* BP ≥ 130/85 mmHg

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy
* Medication and / or pathologies that prevent a safe execution of the fat tissue biopsies
* History of or planned bariatric operation
* Medical conditions that prevent examinations and testing (e.g. symptomatic cardiovascular diseases)
* Active Malignant tumor (\<2a remission)

Where this trial is running

Baden

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: Healthy Obesity, Metabolically, Obesity, Healthy

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.