Lifestyle Intervention

Researchers are evaluating whether the video-based exercise program "Bliib fit - mach mit!" can improve physical fitness in older adults living in residential care facilities. The study aims to see if this program enhances physical fitness, quality of life, perceived fall risk, self-efficacy, and daily physical activity levels. This trial compares the video-based program to a caregiver-led activation program as an optimized standard care approach. Participants will take part in either the video-based exercise program or the caregiver-led activation program for 12 weeks. Each participant will engage in sessions four times a week, with each session lasting about 20 minutes. The video-based program focuses on mobilization, muscle strengthening, coordination, balance, and relaxation, supervised by a care professional. The caregiver-led activation program is instructed and carried out by care professionals individually or in groups. During the study, researchers will assess participants at baseline, after 12 weeks of intervention, and again 12 weeks after the intervention ends. They will measure physical fitness through tests like the Short Physical Performance Battery, grip strength, and a 2-minute walking test. Secondary measures include health-related quality of life, falls efficacy, self-efficacy, and physical activity tracked with accelerometers. This comprehensive monitoring aims to understand how the programs affect participants over time.

Researchers are investigating whether a multifactorial lifestyle intervention involving a Mediterranean diet with reduced calories and increased physical activity can help middle-aged adults (30-50 years) with metabolic syndrome lose weight and maintain that weight loss over time. The study also aims to understand the social and demographic challenges people face in sticking to these healthy habits and to examine the lifestyle patterns of this group. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will follow general lifestyle recommendations from primary healthcare providers, while the other will receive an intensive program that includes monthly individual and group sessions over 6 months to encourage a Mediterranean diet with 25% fewer calories and physical activity based on WHO guidelines. The goal for the intervention group is to reduce their initial weight by 5-10% within 6 months and maintain this loss after 12 months. Throughout the study, participants will undergo assessments including measurements of weight, waist size, blood sugar, triglycerides, and glycated hemoglobin to monitor changes in their health. Data on demographics, diet, clinical parameters, and laboratory tests will be collected. After the 6-month intervention, a follow-up at 12 months will evaluate how well participants maintain their lifestyle changes. The study emphasizes tracking adherence and identifying factors that help or hinder long-term weight loss maintenance.

Researchers are evaluating how forming a physical activity (PA) identity within families can promote long-term physical activity among children aged 6 to 12 years. The study compares an identity formation approach, which includes education and planning plus additional coaching, to a standard education and planning condition. The main goal is to see if children in the identity formation group increase their moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) more over six months. Participants are divided into two groups. One group receives sessions, informational booklets, and worksheets based on Canada's PA guidelines, focusing on how parents can support their child's physical activity through encouragement, logistical help, and doing activities together. This group also receives materials on healthy family eating. The other group receives the same materials plus two extra coaching sessions that include family PA identity activities, such as assigning fun PA roles to family members and creating family PA items like t-shirts and photos, to strengthen social identity related to physical activity. During the six-month study, researchers will monitor children's MVPA at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Additional assessments include parent-child activity tracking through accelerometers and self-reports, body measurements, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness tests, and social identity questionnaires. The study aims to understand how family support and identity impact children's physical activity and health outcomes, with the University of Victoria leading the research.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of "Xuong tan lac than" exercise, a traditional exercise in Vietnamese exercise, on joint range of motion and muscle endurance in healthy volunteers. Reduced joint mobility and decreased muscle endurance are common issues that may affect functional performance and quality of life. Traditional exercise methods are increasingly used to improve musculoskeletal function. However, scientific evidence regarding the effects of specific traditional exercises, including "Xuong tan lac than", remains limited. This study is designed as a pre-post intervention study. Healthy volunteers will be recruited and assessed at baseline for joint range of motion and muscle endurance. Participants will then be trained to correctly perform the "Xuong tan lac than" exercise: * Preparation: Participants stand in a semi-squat position with both hands interlocked and palms facing downward. * Step 1 (Warm-up): Participants inhale deeply while raising both arms overhead. * Step 2 (Movement): While maintaining inhalation, participants perform alternating lateral trunk movements. The trunk bends to the left with the left leg extended and the right leg slightly flexed, then alternates to the opposite side. Each side is repeated 2 - 6 times. * Step 3 (Exhalation): Participants exhale fully while engaging the abdominal muscles and lowering the arms. * Step 4 (Rest): Participants return to a normal breathing pattern and the initial position. The sequence is repeated 2 - 6 times. The intervention consists of practicing the exercise for 12 weeks, 5 days per week, once daily. Each session follows a standardized protocol to ensure consistency among participants. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of intervention. Range of motion will be measured using the Noraxon (Myomotion/MyoResearch) system, which utilizes inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors attached to the body to provide objective and accurate assessment of joint movement. The primary outcomes include changes in joint range of motion (cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle) and muscle endurance around these joints.

This research aims to compare the effectiveness of monitoring blood sugar levels at 1 hour versus 2 hours after meals in pregnant women diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus who require treatment. The study focuses on understanding which monitoring time better supports managing blood sugar during pregnancy to improve outcomes for both mother and baby. Participants are pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic and are treated with metformin, insulin, or a combination. Participants will be randomly assigned to monitor their blood sugar either 1 hour or 2 hours after meals using self-monitoring of capillary blood glucose. Their blood sugar is tracked at seven staggered points to provide a detailed profile. This monitoring continues until delivery, with participants followed regularly in the research clinic. Throughout the study, women will have regular visits to assess their health and that of their baby. Researchers will collect data on mode of delivery, gestational age at birth, and fetal weight. They will also monitor maternal and perinatal complications from randomization to delivery. The total participation lasts from enrollment until the birth of the baby, allowing detailed observation of pregnancy outcomes related to the glucose monitoring method.

Researchers are conducting the 100-Year Human Aging Study, an observational trial designed to follow participants over their lifespans to investigate which health measurements can predict mortality, serious diseases, and functional disability. The study aims to validate many longevity measures that currently lack prospective evidence by tracking physiological, cognitive, social, and environmental factors that change with aging. This research will generate important data to improve understanding of aging and longevity medicine. Participants undergo comprehensive multi-system clinical screenings including tests like cardiopulmonary exercise testing, body composition assessment by DEXA, echocardiography, electrocardiography, spirometry, neurocognitive testing, sensory assessments, metabolic testing, and detailed medical and social histories. The study allows for different levels of participation, from single tests to full two-visit screening batteries, and encourages repeat testing to capture health changes over time. During the study, participants receive individualized reports including investigational estimates of biological age and predicted cause of death. Researchers collect data on mortality, serious health events, chronic diseases, functional ability, and lifestyle changes through periodic follow-up over many years, potentially up to 100 years. This extensive data collection helps evaluate how well these measurements predict aging outcomes. All data are stored in raw form for future analysis and participants are supported with ongoing contact and opportunities for repeat assessments.

This research aims to examine the effects of an 8-week artificial intelligence-based structured exercise program on posture in healthy adults aged 18 to 25 years. Posture is the arrangement of body parts relative to each other, influenced by gravity, muscle tension, and bone structure. The study focuses on common posture disorders in young adults and uses measurements like the craniovertebral angle, thoracic kyphosis, and lumbar lordosis to assess changes. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will perform exercises guided by an artificial intelligence application called "Musclewiki" alongside a physiotherapist, practicing three times a week for 8 weeks. The other group will not perform any exercise during this period. Posture measurements will be taken before and after the 8-week program using a mobile app to evaluate angles related to head, shoulder, and spine alignment. During the study, participants will have posture assessments using frontal and lateral images analyzed by the Posture Screen Mobile app. The primary outcome is the change in craniovertebral angle after 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes include changes in thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angles. The study will monitor participants throughout the 8-week period, with evaluations before and after the intervention to understand the exercise program's impact on posture.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a six-month virtually-delivered dietary education program called PEDALL to prevent overweight and obesity during maintenance chemotherapy in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The study focuses on English and Spanish speaking families and considers key genetic and sociodemographic risk factors that may affect weight gain during treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the PEDALL intervention group or the standard of care (SOC) group. The PEDALL group will receive 26 contact hours of specialized nutrition education through weekly one-hour virtual sessions over six months. The SOC group will receive printed educational materials and nutritional care according to their institution's usual practices. During the study, participants and their caregivers will engage in nutrition education and counseling sessions. Researchers will assess weight status, body mass index trajectories, lifestyle behaviors, and the influence of genetic and sociodemographic factors over time. The main goal is to prevent unhealthy weight gain during maintenance chemotherapy and improve long-term health outcomes for childhood ALL survivors. The study will last up to 3.5 years for primary outcomes, with additional follow-up extending to four years.

Researchers are investigating the relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes, conditions influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. This study aims to better understand how different genetic variations affect gene expression in tissues involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, which may contribute to what is called "diabesity," a combined condition of diabetes and obesity. The study uses advanced genomic techniques and bioinformatics to analyze these factors in both humans and animal models. Participants in this observational study are grouped based on their body mass index (BMI) and diabetes or glucose intolerance status. Groups include individuals with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 with diabetes, glucose intolerance, or without diabetes, as well as those with BMI < 27 kg/m2 and BMI between 27 and 35 kg/m2 without diabetes. Samples are collected during abdominal surgeries such as bariatric surgery or cholecystectomy to study gene expression and metabolic pathways. During the study, researchers collect biological samples at baseline and follow participants over several years to assess changes in gene expression and insulin resistance. They also evaluate clinical and biological features before and after bariatric surgery at 1, 2, and 5 years. The primary measurement focuses on gene expression in tissues related to glucose metabolism. This long-term observation helps to understand the genetic and phenotypic factors influencing obesity and diabetes, with participation lasting up to 5 years.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, tolerability, and how the body processes Semaglutide Nasal Spray compared to a placebo and a known injection in adults who are overweight or obese. This Phase I clinical trial aims to better understand the effects of the nasal spray formulation of Semaglutide in this population. The study is sponsored by Shanghai World Leader Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and focuses on adults aged 18 to 65 years with specific body mass index ranges. Participants will receive either the Semaglutide Nasal Spray, placebo, or a Semaglutide injection (Wegovy®) in different randomized groups. The study involves a single-dose administration and includes several cohorts receiving various combinations of the nasal spray and placebo or the injection. Treatments are given once, and the study monitors the participants for up to 36 days after administration to assess drug levels and effects. During the study, participants will undergo various evaluations including blood tests, vital signs monitoring, physical examinations, electrocardiograms (ECGs), and urine analyses from Day 1 to Day 36. Researchers will measure how much of the drug reaches the blood, how long it stays, and any side effects that occur. Antibody levels against the drug will also be checked up to Day 29. Participants will be closely monitored for any safety concerns throughout the study period.