FIT-YOUNG

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Feasibility study: Impact of weight loss interventions on multiorgan health detected by quantitative MRI in children and young people with severe obesity

• IRAS ID

  349237

• Contact name

  Senthil Senniappan

• Contact email

  senthil.senniappan@alderhey.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  NCT07702825

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 8 months, 3 days

• Research summary

  Introduction:
  Childhood obesity is a growing problem with multiple short term and long term complications. Body Mass Index (BMI) which is calculated using height and weight is currently used to diagnose and grade the severity of obesity. BMI does not always correlate with the complications risk highlighting need for more advanced methods to assess body composition to give proportion and distribution of body fat. MRI scans have the potential to quantify body composition and has been used in adults in the research setting.

  Aim:
  We aim to understand the feasibility of using MRI scans to quantify changes in body composition in children and young people (CYP) with severe obesity. We also aim to study the correlation of these changes with obesity related complications.

  Design:
  This is a feasibility study to understand the utility of MRI in childhood obesity. We would recruit 30 participants aged 12-18 years from a tertiary weight management service. All eligible participants will undergo baseline clinical assessment, blood investigations and a sleep study, which involves monitoring blood oxygen levels using a probe while asleep to screen for obesity related complications. They will then undergo a MRI scan to assess body composition. Participants will continue to receive treatment as per their clinical needs (Lifestyle intervention or lifestyle intervention + medications for weight loss). Participants would undergo repeat assessment looking at the above parameters after an interval of 9 months to quantify changes with management of obesity. We would be collecting feedback from all participants about their experience in the study.

  We would analyse the ability to recruit to this study and successfully complete all trial evaluations including MRI and aim to demonstrate body composition changes with interventions for weight management.

• REC name

  North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/NE/0232

• Date of REC Opinion

  6 Feb 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion