Identification and Characterization of Youth With Extreme Obesity

Summary

While obese and extremely obese youth are at increased risk of health complications, especially the extremely obese group rarely seek medical care. One of the underlying reasons might be the lack of adequate treatment options. This study is a subproject of the "Medical and psychosocial implications of adolescent extreme obesity - acceptance and effects of structured care study", short: "Youth with Extreme obesity Study (YES)", which aims at improving the medical care and social support structures for youth with obesity and extreme obesity in Germany. In this subproject, information on the causes and consequences of extreme obesity will be gathered via questionnaires and medical examinations.

Obese youth and young adults (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2) between the ages of 14 and 24.9 years (initially up to 21 years) are eligible to participate. Participants will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires on their general health, psychosocial situation and wellbeing in 2-3 sessions. They will be offered a thorough medical examination comprising a general check-up, a fasting blood draw and oral glucose tolerance test, a focused orthopaedic examination, a sleep apnea screening, and an ultrasound of the liver. The aim of the study is to elicit the acceptance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and to assess the frequency of co-morbidities in obese and extremely obese youth. This knowledge will optimize medical treatment and support options. Interested participants will be invited to participate in further steps of YES, which entail medical care and psycho-social support.

Conditions

• Obesity
• Extreme Obesity

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Witten/Herdecke

  collaborator OTHER

• Charite University, Berlin, Germany

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Leipzig

  collaborator OTHER

• Universität Duisburg-Essen

  collaborator OTHER

• Prof. Dr. Martin Wabitsch

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Martin Wabitsch, Prof. Dr. med. · University of Ulm

• Susanna Wiegand, Dr. med. · Charite University, Berlin, Germany

• Thomas Reinehr, Prof. Dr. med. · University of Witten/Herdecke

• Johannes Hebebrand, Prof. Dr. med. · Universität Duisburg-Essen

• Wieland Kiess, Prof. Dr. med. · University of Leipzig

• Reinhard Holl, Prof. Dr. med. · University of Ulm

• Anja Moss, Dr. biol. hum. · University of Ulm

• Belinda S Lennerz, Dr. med. · University of Ulm

• Julia von Schnurbein, Dr. med. · University of Ulm

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Max Age

24 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-07-31

Primary Completion

2014-11-30

Completion

2014-12-31

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations