Durham

The International Weight Control Registry (IWCR) is a global research effort aimed at understanding the challenges and opportunities in reducing obesity rates. It collects information from adults who have experience with weight management in their daily lives, including those trying to lose weight, maintaining weight loss, gaining weight, or unable to lose weight. The study seeks to gather a wide range of experiences to better understand weight control. This research does not involve specific treatments or interventions but focuses on collecting data from participants through surveys about their weight management journeys. It welcomes anyone 18 years or older who is thinking about losing weight, actively trying to lose weight, or has attempted weight loss in the past, whether successful or not. Participants provide information online by completing surveys, sharing their experiences with weight loss or gain. The study measures outcomes such as percent weight change over five years. Researchers use this information to learn about factors affecting weight management and barriers to success. Participants must be able to give informed consent and complete surveys online, with no physical visits or treatments required.

Researchers are studying how a change to an obesogenic lifestyle affects insulin resistance and metabolic flexibility in healthy, recreationally active young adults aged 18 to 30 years. The study focuses on whether adding excess carbohydrates while reducing physical activity leads to insulin resistance, impaired 24-hour glucose regulation, and reduced ability to break down fats and carbohydrates. This research aims to better understand early metabolic changes that may contribute to obesity and cardiometabolic diseases during the transition to middle adulthood. Participants will be assigned to one of several groups for a 10-day period. One group will reduce physical activity and consume added sugar-sweetened beverages, another will reduce physical activity without added sugar, and a third group will maintain high physical activity while consuming added sugar-sweetened beverages. These groups allow comparison of the effects of low physical activity alone, added carbohydrates alone, and their combination on metabolic health. During the study, participants' insulin resistance, glucose regulation, and fat oxidation will be closely monitored. Researchers will measure changes over the 10 days to determine how these lifestyle factors impact metabolic flexibility and insulin sensitivity. The study includes assessments of physical activity levels, metabolic tests, and monitoring of glucose and fat metabolism to evaluate the effects of the interventions on participants' health.