New Study Finds Self-Guided Family-Based Treatment Effective for Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a growing concern worldwide, with one in five children in the U.S. affected. In southern Italy, four in 10 children are overweight despite it being the birthplace of the highly praised Mediterranean Diet. And South Korea is now has the highest obesity rate in East Asia among children and adolescents. And that’s just in the news this week. The list grows and grows.

While traditional obesity treatment methods have been effective, they often come with significant barriers, such as time commitment, cost, and access to specialized care. However, a new clinical trial from UC San Diego suggests that a self-guided version of Family-Based Treatment (FBT) could be a game-changer, offering a more accessible, affordable, and equally effective alternative.

What is family-based treatment?

FBT is a well-established approach to treating childhood obesity that involves working closely with families to promote healthier behaviors. Traditionally, healthcare professionals guide families through a structured program focused on encouraging physical activity, teaching healthy eating habits, and developing age-appropriate behavioral skills.

The new study from UC San Diego’s Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR) found that self-guided FBT provides the same benefits while reducing the time, cost, and scheduling constraints associated with clinician-led programs.

A more flexible, cost-effective approach

Dr. Kerri Boutelle, senior study author and director of CHEAR, highlighted the limitations of traditional FBT:

While effective, it can be time-intensive, expensive, and offered at limited times, making it difficult for many families to participate.

In contrast, self-guided FBT condenses the program significantly. Instead of the traditional 26 hours of treatment over six months, the self-guided model requires only five hours of treatment within the same timeframe. Families complete 20-minute sessions every other week without the need for a trained clinician, making it a viable option for busy households and those facing financial challenges.

The importance of family involvement

Unlike adult obesity, which is often addressed individually, research shows that a family-based approach is most effective for children. Traditional FBT typically involves parents and their children (ages 8-15) in small group sessions, fostering a supportive environment. However, Dr. Boutelle’s research suggests that direct work with parents — rather than relying on group sessions or extensive clinician involvement — is the key to success.

She said:

While some families may benefit from the standard approach, providing more flexible and accessible alternatives like self-guided FBT can help us make a wider impact on childhood obesity.

Dr. Boutelle emphasized that this model allows treatment to be delivered in medical offices, enabling physicians and healthcare providers to support families without requiring extensive training.

Addressing the complexity of childhood obesity

Obesity in children is a multifaceted issue influenced by diet, physical activity, genetics, and environmental factors. Key contributors include:

• Diet: High consumption of sugary drinks, processed foods, and large portion sizes.
• Physical Activity: Sedentary lifestyles, excessive screen time, and limited exercise.
• Genetics: Some children may be genetically predisposed to weight gain.
• Environment: Accessibility to unhealthy foods, lack of safe spaces for physical activity, and social norms promoting sedentary habits.

With obesity linked to serious health concerns such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health issues, accessible and effective treatments are crucial. The self-guided FBT model offers a promising solution, making evidence-based care more widely available to families who might otherwise struggle to access traditional programs.

Looking ahead

The findings from UC San Diego’s research underscore the need for innovative approaches to tackling childhood obesity. By offering a flexible, cost-effective, and family-centered solution, self-guided FBT has the potential to reach more families and create lasting health improvements for children nationwide.

As Dr. Boutelle puts it:

There’s no reason to require extensive in-person treatment when we can achieve the same results in a way that fits into families’ lives more easily. Our goal is to ensure that more children receive the help they need without unnecessary barriers.

With ongoing efforts to expand awareness and accessibility, self-guided FBT could soon become a standard tool in the fight against childhood obesity.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “UC San Diego clinical trial: Family-based treatment best for obese children,” SDNews.com, 2/14/25
Image by Agung Pandit Wiguna/Pexels

Can New Weight-Loss Drugs Surpass The Current Ones?

Are the weight loss medications currently on the market possibly being overused or not used as intended? Yes and yes. The article published in Axios, “Wegovy and Ozempic stars dim amid overuse concerns,” quotes a few specialists voicing their concern. One of them is Peter Antall, chief medical officer of digital chronic health company Lark. He says,

There is almost like a backlash kind of a sentiment going on… I don’t believe that we’re having second thoughts about the power of the medication. But I think the shine is coming off how they’re being used in real practice… That’s where many of us are concerned.

Another expert is obesity specialist and gastroenterologist Dr. Christopher McGowan, who penned his opinion in MedPage Today. He explained why his “perspective has shifted based on real-world experience.” Dr. McGowan is “deeply concerned about how GLP-1 medications are being used.” He writes:

The benefits of these drugs cannot be denied when they are taken as intended — meaning indefinitely. But what happens to the body and mind when these medications are discontinued? This is where the problem lies…

Noting that “from an efficacy standpoint, these drugs ‘work’,” but only for those who can “afford, tolerate, and sustain GLP-1.” They lose weight and enjoy other benefits such as improvements in various conditions, including kidney disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis — the list goes on. However, Dr. McGowan’s parting words send a chill:

 I fear we will look back on this era — after patients have spent tens of thousands of dollars, endured uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects and experienced recurring weight gain and resurgent food noise — and ask: Even if these drugs ‘work,’ did they really work? Or did they ultimately harm our patients, our society, and our economy? It’s a sobering thought, but one I fear is all too real.

New kids on the block

Pharmaceutical companies are fully aware of current concerns and are actively testing a new wave of weight-loss medications, or planning more trials for the current ones, with a goal of enhancing their effectiveness and offering additional health benefits beyond shedding pounds.

Current treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain semaglutide — a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite, are expensive, require weekly injections, and must be taken long-term to prevent weight regain. Drug makers hope that new alternatives will overcome these challenges. Plus, the global market keeps expanding and the demand is surging, so we are sure Big Pharma sees the dollar signs as well.

Let’s take a quick look at what medications we should expect to improve, and what the manufacturers and the researchers plan for them in 2025, as outlined in a recent article published in Nature.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound, activates both GLP-1 and another hormone, GIP, which plays a role in fat metabolism. In clinical trials, it helped participants lose up to 20% of their body weight over 72 weeks, outperforming semaglutide, which leads to about 15% weight loss in a similar timeframe. Additionally, tirzepatide reduced heart weight, lowered fat around the heart, improved mobility, and decreased blood pressure and inflammation.

A major trial set to conclude in 2025 will explore its impact on heart disease in people with obesity and diabetes.

Retatrutide

Developed by Eli Lilly, retatrutide stimulates GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors, showing even greater potential than existing drugs. In trials, participants lost an average of 24% of their body weight over 11 months. This medication also helped regulate blood sugar in diabetics and is now in phase III trials, expected to conclude by 2026.

Experts believe that combination therapies like retatrutide could be particularly effective, as obesity is a complex condition that benefits from targeting multiple biological pathways.

Orforglipron

Unlike Ozempic, which requires injection, orforglipron is a daily pill that mimics GLP-1’s effects. In early trials, it led to a 10% weight loss over 26 weeks while improving blood pressure and reducing circulating fat molecules.

Eli Lilly anticipates completing phase III trials in 2025, with potential U.S. regulatory approval in 2026. Experts suggest that if oral drugs like orforglipron prove effective, they could disrupt the market by offering a more convenient and cost-effective option.

MariTide

Amgen’s experimental drug MariTide, which stimulates GLP-1 while inhibiting GIP activity, is designed to be taken via monthly injections. In a 52-week study, it resulted in up to 20% weight loss. Unlike other treatments, MariTide appears to help maintain weight loss for months after stopping the medication, an issue seen with semaglutide and tirzepatide.

This potential for sustained results could make it a more attractive option for patients reluctant to commit to lifelong treatment.

CagriSema

Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema, a blend of semaglutide and cagrilintide, has shown superior weight-loss outcomes compared to its individual components. A 68-week study saw participants lose approximately 23% of their body weight.

Muscle preservation and metabolic treatments

Several companies are exploring synthetic amylin-based therapies, which help regulate appetite and blood sugar while preserving muscle mass — an advantage over GLP-1 drugs, which can lead to muscle loss. Novo Nordisk’s amycretin, a combination of GLP-1 and amylin, led to a 22% weight reduction in just 36 weeks.

Another experimental drug, enobosarm, developed by Veru, was found to preserve muscle in older adults with obesity when combined with Wegovy. Future studies may investigate how to help older or frail individuals lose weight while maintaining muscle strength and preventing osteoporosis.

Emerging therapies targeting cannabinoid receptors, which influence hunger, have shown early promise, with more research expected in 2025.

The bottom line

Looking ahead, researchers hope to shift the focus from simple weight loss to a broader understanding of obesity as a metabolic disease. Some believe that the next major breakthrough could come from a treatment that addresses inflammation, a key factor in obesity — though results from human trials are still a long way off.

Even if these new treatments aren’t widely available in 2025, researchers believe that the coming year will provide key insights into which therapies will be most effective and accessible in the near future.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “The weight-loss drugs being tested in 2025: will they beat Ozempic?,” Nature, 2/6/25
Source: “Wegovy and Ozempic stars dim amid overuse concerns,” Axios, 2/11/25
Source: “I No Longer Think GLP-1s Are the Answer,” MedPage Today, 1/30/25
Image by Chokniti Khongchum/Pexels

Unlocking Brown Fat’s Power: A New Strategy Against Obesity

A groundbreaking study from the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) has revealed an innovative approach to combating obesity by enhancing the body’s natural ability to generate heat. Researchers have discovered that blocking the mitochondrial protein MCJ in brown fat significantly increases thermogenesis, leading to weight loss in obese mice and providing protection against obesity-related diseases such as diabetes. The study was recently highlighted in SciTechDaily.

Obesity and its global impact

Obesity is a pressing global health issue, affecting over 650 million people and contributing to the rise of cardiometabolic diseases and cancer risk. The study, led by Guadalupe Sabio from CNIO and Cintia Folgueira from CNIO and the National Centre for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC), sheds light on a crucial biological mechanism that could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies.

The role of MCJ in energy metabolism

At the heart of this discovery is MCJ, a mitochondrial protein that regulates energy production within cells. The researchers found that eliminating MCJ in obese mice led to a marked increase in heat production, resulting in significant weight loss. Furthermore, the transplantation of MCJ-deficient fat tissue into obese mice also triggered weight reduction, underscoring the protein’s pivotal role in metabolic regulation.

Understanding brown fat and thermogenesis

Adipose tissue, commonly known as body fat, is not merely a passive energy reservoir but an active participant in metabolic regulation. There are two primary types of adipose tissue. White adipose tissue (WAT), which primarily stores energy. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is rich in mitochondria and specializes in thermogenesis — the process of generating heat in response to cold and other stimuli.

The authors write in Nature Communications:

Obesity is the result of either excessive food intake or inadequate total energy expenditure. We now know that adipose tissue –body fat–, in addition to storing energy, plays a crucial role in the management of that energy by the body. Adipose tissue is a complex organ that acts as a regulator of the whole body’s metabolism, and therefore modulating its function could well be a way to combat obesity.

For years, scientists have sought ways to activate brown fat as a means to combat obesity. “Understanding how brown fat generates heat is essential if we want to leverage it as a tool against obesity,” explains Sabio. The CNIO study now identifies MCJ as a key player in this process.

A new path to weight loss and disease prevention

By blocking MCJ, brown fat burns more energy, leading not only to weight loss but also to improved metabolic health. Mice lacking MCJ in their brown fat exhibited protection against common obesity-related health issues, including diabetes and high blood lipid levels. According to lead researcher Beatriz Cicuéndez, this protection is attributed to the activation of the catabolic pathway — a vital metabolic route that enhances fat, sugar, and protein consumption to produce heat.

Future therapeutic potential

The findings highlight MCJ as a promising therapeutic target for obesity treatment. However, before moving to clinical applications, further research is necessary to assess whether MCJ plays critical roles in other tissues. Additionally, scientists are investigating how changes in fat metabolism might influence cancer progression or conditions like cachexia, a syndrome characterized by extreme muscle and fat loss.

Looking ahead

This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for developing new obesity treatments that harness the body’s natural energy-burning mechanisms. By targeting MCJ, researchers may unlock a novel approach to weight management and metabolic disease prevention, bringing hope to millions struggling with obesity worldwide.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Goodbye Obesity: Scientists Uncover Fat-Burning Protein Switch,” SciTechDaily, 1/27/25
Source: “Absence of MCJ/DnaJC15 promotes brown adipose tissue thermogenesis,” Nature Communications, 1/13/25
Image by Total Shape/Pexels

Is the U.S. Obesity Epidemic Finally Turning a Corner?

For the first time in more than a decade, there’s a glimmer of hope in the battle against obesity in the United States. According to a recent study published in the JAMA Health Forum, obesity rates in the U.S. have shown a slight but meaningful decline. After years of relentless increases, the percentage of American adults considered obese dropped from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023 — a small but significant dip that offers a new sense of optimism about the country’s ongoing struggle with obesity.

The study’s findings

For ABC News, Niki Iranpour, M.D., who is an internal medicine resident at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit, took a look at the study’s findings and implications.

The study, which tracked the body mass index (BMI) of 16.7 million U.S. adults over a 10-year period, revealed an important milestone. After a decade of rising obesity rates, the average BMI, which reached 30.24 in 2022, plateaued and then slightly decreased to 30.21 in 2023. For many public health experts, this marks the first real sign that the alarming trend of rising obesity may be reversing.

John Brownstein, the study’s co-author, and a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, expressed cautious optimism about the findings. He said:

What we’re seeing for the first time is that curve is bending and shows a sign of hope for something that was really a threat to American public health for so many years.

While the drop is small, it’s still a hopeful shift in a battle that has been fought for decades. Since the early 2000s, the obesity rate in the U.S. has steadily climbed, contributing to a host of health issues including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. A decline, even a modest one, suggests that something — perhaps multiple factors — is finally starting to make a difference.

The role of semaglutide and GLP-1 medications

While they’re still being evaluated for safety, especially for children, one factor that may be contributing to this positive change is the increasing use of weight loss medications, particularly semaglutide. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in the medications Ozempic and Wegovy, belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, these drugs have been shown to significantly aid in weight loss, making them a game-changer for people struggling with obesity.

Between 2019 and 2023, the use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss increased by a staggering 700%, according to one study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. These drugs work by mimicking a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite, leading to reduced hunger and weight loss. Given their growing popularity and effectiveness, many experts believe that the widespread use of semaglutide may be helping to turn the tide on the obesity epidemic.

Brownstein and his team pointed out that regions in the U.S. where these medications have been dispensed most — particularly in the South — saw some of the most significant declines in obesity. The South also happens to be a region where obesity rates have historically been high, and the use of weight loss medications is rapidly growing.

Other factors at play

While semaglutide and other GLP-1 medications likely play a key role in the decline, experts caution that there are likely other contributing factors as well. For one, the pandemic had a profound impact on lifestyle habits, and as people returned to more normal routines after the height of COVID-19, some may have become more active and healthier.

Benjamin Rader, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and a co-author of the study, suggested that the emergence from pandemic isolation could be influencing this trend. He said:

People are potentially starting to be more active again, stopping the sedentary habits they picked up during COVID… This shift toward more physical activity, combined with a greater awareness of the risks of obesity, may be encouraging healthier choices.

Additionally, the South’s high obesity rate and increased use of weight loss medications were also accompanied by a disproportionately high number of COVID-19 deaths among people with obesity. This tragic impact could have prompted more individuals to seek medical intervention, including weight loss treatments, as a way to manage their health.

A long road ahead

While the findings of this study are encouraging, experts warn against jumping to conclusions. Anne Peters, M.D., a professor at the Keck School of Medicine, emphasized that it’s still too early to determine whether this slight decline in obesity rates will persist in the long term. She told ABC News:

We need to look at this as a positive indicator in a specific database… That may mean that people are doing better and that including therapies [is] helpful, but we need to see how that plays out over time.

Will the trend continue?

As we move into 2025 and beyond, all eyes will be on the U.S. obesity rates to see if this downward trend continues. The increased availability of medications like semaglutide, combined with a renewed focus on physical activity and healthier lifestyles post-pandemic, offers a glimmer of hope that the U.S. may finally be on the road to reversing its obesity epidemic.

For now, the slight decline in obesity rates is a reason to celebrate — but also a reminder that the journey toward healthier habits and improved public health is a long one. The real question is whether this momentary dip will continue into the future or whether the country will face new challenges ahead in the fight against obesity.

Only time will tell.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “US obesity rates drop for 1st time in a decade, with possible help from weight loss medications,” ABC News, 12/13/24
Source: “Changes in Adult Obesity Trends in the US,” JAMA Network, 12/13/24
Image by Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels