De Haan

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, especially rising among children and adolescents due to increasing obesity rates. This study aims to compare the effects of two different weight loss approaches on liver health in young patients with NAFLD. The researchers focus on how residential and ambulatory weight loss programs impact liver steatosis and fibrosis in this population. Participants will undergo lifestyle management interventions that include increasing physical activity, dietary changes, adopting healthy eating habits, and receiving psychological support. The study compares outcomes between a residential weight loss program and an ambulatory (outpatient) program in two separate patient groups. This is a non-randomized observational study. During the study, liver fibrosis improvement will be assessed after six months of lifestyle intervention. Researchers will monitor the participants' progress in reducing liver fat and fibrosis through non-invasive methods. The study includes children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years who are enrolled in the lifestyle management programs at participating centers. Safety and treatment effects will be followed throughout the intervention period.

Researchers are investigating the relationship between stress, diet, the gut microbiome, and obesity in adolescents aged 11 to 17 years who are classified as overweight or obese. The study aims to understand how weight conditions relate to the fecal metabolome and emotional stress, and how diet and the gut microbiome influence this stress-obesity connection. The goal is to develop a personalized dietary intervention strategy for this group by identifying metabolic markers and microbiome features linked to obesity and stress. Participants will provide saliva, stool, and hair samples collected at home, which will be immediately frozen for analysis. The study includes detailed questionnaires about mental health, medical history, and demographics, as well as dietary assessments through a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recalls. In a 3-month personalized dietary intervention for up to 20 overweight or obese participants, individualized menus will be created by a dietician based on earlier study findings. During this period, fecal samples will be collected multiple times for metabolomics and microbiome analyses, and fasting blood samples will be taken before and after the intervention to measure clinical biomarkers. Resting energy expenditure will also be assessed. Throughout the study, participants will undergo anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, fat percentage, and waist circumference. Questionnaires will cover emotional eating, satiety, physical activity, sleep, and quality of life. The study will analyze metabolomics samples in late 2024 to identify potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. This comprehensive approach includes monitoring dietary habits, microbiome composition, and stress levels to evaluate the effects of the personalized nutrition intervention on the stress-obesity axis in adolescents.

This research investigates tongue characteristics in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years with obesity. It focuses on using ultrasound to study tongue features such as fat accumulation and mechanical properties, and explores how these relate to body measurements and obstructive sleep apnea. The study observes participants over time as they go through a weight-loss program. Participants undergo a standardized submental tongue ultrasound examination at the start and after completing a 30-week inpatient multidisciplinary weight-loss rehabilitation program at the Zeepreventorium in Belgium. The ultrasound evaluates tongue shape, fat-related markers, and mechanical stiffness using shear-wave elastography. Alongside, researchers collect body measurements and sleep-related questionnaire data. During the study, participants are assessed twice—before and after the rehabilitation program. Measurements include tongue stiffness and other ultrasound markers, body stats, and sleep apnea questionnaires. The reliability of the ultrasound measurements is checked, and connections between tongue features, obesity, and sleep apnea are studied. The total participation lasts for the 30-week program duration.