NCT02754258

Brief Summary

The Problem: Obesity is one of the leading causes of chronic disease and death. The efficacy of diet and exercise to sustain weight loss over the long term is weak. While pharmacotherapy is more effective than behavior intervention in maintaining weight loss the effects are often not sufficient to achieve optimal health benefits. Current drug treatments may be sub-optimal because they do not directly target the rewarding value of food, drive to eat, food liking, and impulsivity for eating energy dense snack foods, all of which influences both quantity and quality of food intake and impacts adherence needed to maintain weight loss. The Solution: The limitations in current anti-obesity agents are potentially addressed by Methylphenidate (MPH). We showed that MPH reduces food intake, dietary fat intake, hunger and food reward, as increase resting energy expenditure in obese and non-obese adults;however, no controlled field trials have been conducted in obese individuals without ADHD. Objectives/Hypotheses: Primary: To test the effects of MPH on energy intake in obese men and women. Secondary: to examine the effects of MPH on energy expenditure, body weight, impulsivity, food reward, and olfaction. The investigators predict that compared to placebo, MPH will show reduced appetite, along with reduced impulsivity, food reward, and smell function. Deliverable: This study may be the first to establish the short-term efficacy and safety of using MPH for weight loss, and if successful, data will inform a larger trial that can potentially identify MPH as a novel therapeutic agent for treating obesity and related chronic diseases in a predisposed population.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
40

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for phase_3 obesity

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2017

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 12, 2016

Completed
16 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 28, 2016

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 1, 2017

Completed
1.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2018

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 1, 2018

Completed
Last Updated

August 3, 2017

Status Verified

August 1, 2017

Enrollment Period

1.6 years

First QC Date

April 12, 2016

Last Update Submit

August 2, 2017

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in Energy Intake

    Participant will be offered a lunch buffet that includes items they indicate are preferred. They will be able to eat as much or as little as they choose.

    Measured three times over the course of 2 months (twice at baseline: once with and without study drug & once at final visit).

Secondary Outcomes (7)

  • Change in Energy Expenditure

    Measured three times over the course of 2 months (twice at baseline: once with and without study drug & once at final visit).

  • Change in Body Weight

    Measured two times over the course of 2 months (once at baseline & once at final visit).

  • Height

    Measured at baseline.

  • Height

    Measured at final visit; height will be used to determine BMI at the final visit.

  • Change in Body Mass Index

    Measured two times over the course of 2 months (once at baseline & once at final visit).

  • +2 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

60 day oral administration of sugar placebo twice per day before lunch and supper.

Drug: Placebo

Methylphenidate (MPH)

EXPERIMENTAL

60 day oral administration of active study drug (methylphenidate) twice per day before lunch and supper.

Drug: MPH

Interventions

MPHDRUG

60 days on oral methylphenidate administered 2 times daily before lunch and supper.

Also known as: pms-Methylphenidate
Methylphenidate (MPH)

60 days on oral placebo administered 2 times daily before lunch and supper

Also known as: Sugar Placebo
Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

Age16 Years - 40 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • males and females 16 to 40 years old
  • BMI in the obese category (above 29.9kg/m2)
  • willing to comply with procedures, and sign informed consent forms
  • able to swallow a placebo pill that will be used in the study (same size as study drug)

You may not qualify if:

  • smoker (the main outcome is energy intake and smoking is known to impact appetite)
  • known serious food allergies, including lactose
  • history of previous MPH use or allergy to MPH
  • history of ADHD or current diagnosis of an axis 1 psychiatric disorder (e.g., depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia) as measured by self-report, the Wender-Utah Rating Scale52-54 and the Beck Depression Inventory
  • current use of antidepressants, thyroid medication, or any medication that could affect appetite
  • high blood pressure
  • pre-existing cardiovascular disorders including uncontrolled hypertension, angina pectoris, arterial occlusive disease, heart failure, cardiomypathies, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrhythmia
  • diabetes
  • excessive use of alcohol or alcoholism, or current addictions to opiates, cocaine or stimulants as measured by the Drug Abuse Screening Test;
  • not a restrained eater based on cut-score (11 or higher) on Three Factor Eating Questionnaire56
  • glaucoma
  • personal or family history of seizure disorders
  • currently taking MAO inhibitors, pressor agents, coumarin, anticonvulsants, phenylbutazone, or tricyclic antidepressants
  • history of thyroid disease
  • personal or family history of motor tics or Tourettes's Syndrome
  • +2 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Children's Hospital Of Eastern Ontario Research Institute

Ottawa, Ontario, K1H8L1, Canada

RECRUITING

University of Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario, K1N6N5, Canada

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity

Interventions

5,10-dihydro-5-methylphenazine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

OverweightOvernutritionNutrition DisordersNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Eric Doucet, PhD

    University of Ottawa

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Philippe Robaey, MD, FRCPC

    Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario-Research Inst

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jameason D Cameron, PhD

CONTACT

Gary S Goldfield, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Qualified Investigator, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 12, 2016

First Posted

April 28, 2016

Study Start

January 1, 2017

Primary Completion

August 1, 2018

Study Completion

December 1, 2018

Last Updated

August 3, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-08

Locations