Obesity Pillars最新文献

{"title":"Use of obesity medications in a young pediatric patient with optic nerve hypoplasia and severe early-onset obesity: A case report","authors":"Armine Simonian ,&nbsp;Emily Sousa ,&nbsp;Kamran Samakar ,&nbsp;Alaina P. Vidmar","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100192","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100192","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Pediatric obesity presents complex challenges in children with underlying endocrine disorders. In patients with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) and hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, lifestyle changes alone are often ineffective for obesity treatment. This case report describes targeted pharmacologic interventions for severe early-onset obesity in a child with ONH and multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies.</div></div><div><h3>Case presentation</h3><div>A Hispanic female was diagnosed at 45 days of life with ONH and central arginine vasopressin deficiency, central hypothyroidism, secondary adrenal insufficiency, and growth hormone deficiency. Despite early interventions, her weight-for-length percentile rose from the 65th to &gt;97th by nine months, with continued acceleration to body mass index (BMI) of 52 kg/m² by age 5. Topiramate 100 mg nightly was initiated, with some associated appetite suppression and weight deceleration appreciated. Weight continued to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, and at age 6, the dose of topiramate was increased (200 mg nightly) and phentermine 15 mg daily was added. An 11 % BMI reduction was observed over the subsequent 12 months, leading to BMI of 47 kg/m² at age 7. Due to persistent and worsening obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) despite BMI reduction, semaglutide was then initiated, with ramp-up to 2.4 mg weekly, resulting in BMI reduction of 30 % over 24 months with triple-agent therapy, and associated resolution of OSA, elevated liver enzymes, and hypertriglyceridemia.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>This case highlights the potential role and therapeutic benefit of early, targeted pharmacologic intervention in managing severe obesity in pediatric patients with hypothalamic dysfunction and ONH. In a setting where lifestyle modifications alone are insufficient, the use of combination obesity medications resulted in substantial and sustained BMI reduction, alongside resolution of obesity-related comorbidities. These findings underscore the need for proactive, individualized treatment strategies in complex pediatric obesity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100192"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144631304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceived benefits of treatment for obesity with retatrutide: A qualitative study of patients in a phase 2 clinical trial","authors":"Iris A. Goetz ,&nbsp;Chisom Kanu ,&nbsp;Anastasia Hoover ,&nbsp;Cecilia Jimenez-Moreno ,&nbsp;Hayley Karn ,&nbsp;Miriam Kimel ,&nbsp;Lisa M. Neff ,&nbsp;Kristina S. Boye","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Retatrutide, an agonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide-1, and glucagon receptors, is in development for the treatment of obesity. We interviewed participants exiting a phase 2 trial to understand the impact of retatrutide on eating behaviors, physical aspects, emotions, and lifestyle.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a qualitative exit interview study conducted in the US. Participants were adults with obesity or overweight and weight-related complications exiting the phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of retatrutide (1, 4, 8, and 12 mg) (NCT04881760). Telephone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using ATLAS.ti.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants (N = 40; mean age 51 years; 52.5 % male) received retatrutide 4/8/12 mg (n = 23), retatrutide 1 mg (n = 13), or placebo (n = 4). Thirty-one of 36 retatrutide-treated participants reported changes in eating behaviors within the trial's first 8 weeks. Participants described eating less often or smaller portions, feeling hungry less often, feeling full after eating, having different food preferences, and feeling more in control of their eating. They also described feeling good about themselves or self-confident (n = 32) and feeling happy (n = 25). Participants reported improvements in mobility or ability to perform physical activities (n = 27), energy levels (n = 24), social activities involving food (n = 18), exercise (n = 19), and leisure activities (n = 17), as well as reduction in clothing size (n = 24). Some retatrutide-treated participants reported reduced participation in social activities due to adverse events (n = 2) or new eating habits (n = 2) and frustration due to disappointing weight loss (n = 3). Thirty of 36 retatrutide-treated participants had weight reduction as a goal, and 76.7 % reported achieving their goal.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In this exit interview analysis of adult study participants, those treated with retatrutide reported early changes in eating behavior, improved physical and emotional well-being, and weight reduction goal achievement. Some participants experienced social limitations or frustration due to adverse events or unmet expectations (NCT04881760).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100220"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145424611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishing a multidisciplinary bariatric arterial embolization program: A two-year clinical experience","authors":"Adham Khalil ,&nbsp;Alan J. Kim ,&nbsp;Lawrence J. Cheskin ,&nbsp;Selvi Rajagopal ,&nbsp;Bill Morefield ,&nbsp;Zoobia Chaudhry ,&nbsp;Kimberly A. Gudzune ,&nbsp;Clifford R. Weiss","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Bariatric arterial embolization (BAE) is an emerging, minimally invasive, image-guided procedure for treating obesity in patients for whom nonoperative treatments have failed and metabolic-bariatric surgery is not an option. BAE has shown success in clinical studies, but guidance on integrating BAE into weight management programs (WMPs) is lacking. We describe our experience with building a multidisciplinary clinical program that integrates BAE into routine care for obesity.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a retrospective, single-center observational case series of patients treated with BAE through our WMP between November 2021 and September 2023. Patient chart review was performed for the following criteria for consideration of BAE: had a body mass index ≥30 kg/m², was unable to achieve weight and health goals through nonoperative management, and was ineligible or unwilling to undergo metabolic-bariatric surgery. Through multidisciplinary discussion, BAE was deemed suitable based on various patient-specific medical and technical reasons.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Thirty-one patients were considered for BAE through the program. Of those, 9 patients were cleared for BAE and 5 patients (4 women and 1 man) eventually underwent BAE. The mean age of the embolized patients was 42 years (range: 28–56). The mean pre-procedure weight was 116 kg (range: 100–134). Patients achieved a mean total body weight loss of 7.0% at 4–5 months’ follow-up and 4.2% at 12 months. BAE was performed successfully with only transient nausea and vomiting postoperatively. The mean cost for BAE was $14,329 US dollars.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>BAE offers an obesity treatment option with low complication risk and potential benefit when used as part of a comprehensive WMP. Close collaboration between interventional radiologists and obesity medicine physicians is key for success. BAE should be offered as a component within a comprehensive WMP rather than as a stand-alone procedure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving obesity treatment through online motivational support in primary care","authors":"Jessica Stockham ,&nbsp;Shannon Harris ,&nbsp;William Berard","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100191","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100191","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Obesity is a complex, chronic disease requiring time-intensive, multifaceted management strategies that are often difficult to implement in primary care. This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate whether the integration of an online motivational support group via Facebook, in addition to routine monthly office visits, could enhance obesity treatment outcomes and patient motivation in a primary care setting. As a nurse practitioner driven project, nurse practitioners have the training to make significant improvements in the area of obesity treatment. Nurse practitioners are key in providing patients with education and tools to help patients lose weight and maintain successful weight loss (Fruh, 2017) [1].</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a quality improvement project using a pre-post design conducted at a private outpatient internal medicine clinic. Adult patients (n = 68) with a BMI ≥30 or ≥25 with comorbidities were enrolled. Participants joined a Facebook-based support group and received standardized education and monthly in-person follow-up for 12 weeks. Outcomes measured before and after the intervention included weight, BMI, waist circumference, and responses to the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire-Short Form (WEL-SF). Paired t-tests were used for statistical analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Statistically significant improvements were observed in weight (−9.46 lbs, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001), BMI (−1.91, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001), and waist circumference (−1.87 inches, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001). WEL-SF scores improved significantly in 7 of 8 domains, with an average increase of 11.8 %, indicating enhanced self-efficacy and motivation for healthy eating behaviors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The integration of an online motivational support platform with monthly in-office visits significantly improved physiologic outcomes and patient self-efficacy in managing obesity. These findings support the feasibility and potential benefit of low-cost digital support tools in augmenting outpatient obesity care, particularly in settings with limited resources. Further research should explore the impact of engagement level and long-term outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100191"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Creating an adolescent intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment for type 1 diabetes: Feedback from the target population","authors":"Jennifer L. Warnick ,&nbsp;Katherine E. Darling ,&nbsp;Smriti Maskey ,&nbsp;Lisa Swartz Topor ,&nbsp;Katelyn Fox ,&nbsp;KayLoni Olson ,&nbsp;Elissa Jelalian","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The prevalence of obesity among youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) has significantly increased over the past few decades, leading to increased risks for morbidity and early mortality. Despite this growing need, there is a dearth of evidence-based intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatments (IHBLT) for youth with T1D. This study collected qualitative data from adolescents with T1D and with comorbid overweight/obesity and their caregivers to inform the refinement of an IHBLT specific to adolescents with T1D.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This is an original clinical research study. Participants completed individual semi-structured interviews to provide feedback on planned session topics, handouts, and activities for a modified IHBLT for T1D. A deductive framework matrix analysis approach was used to analyze data. All data were analyzed by two independent coders who met to discuss divergence in coding and came to 100 % agreement. Codes were iteratively reduced and organized into themes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Sixteen participants (<em>n</em> = 8 adolescents, <em>n</em> = 8 caregivers) completed qualitative interviews. Three main themes emerged from the data: (1) satisfaction with the proposed program, (2) program structure preferences, and (3) suggested adaptations.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The adapted IHBLT for adolescents with T1D seems to be initially acceptable to the target population. Results provide suggestions for the continued refinement of an IHBLT specific to adolescents with T1D.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100194"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144604139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diet quality and nutrient distribution while using glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist: A secondary cross-sectional analysis","authors":"Brittany V.B. Johnson,&nbsp;Mary Milstead,&nbsp;Lauren Green,&nbsp;Rachel Kreider,&nbsp;Rachel Jones","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>With the rise of glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist medications (GLP-1RA) for obesity treatment, understanding diet quality can be a valuable tool for providing evidence-based nutrition guidance. However, there is limited data on dietary intake during GLP-1RA treatment. Thus, we analyzed diet quality and nutrient timing while using GLP-1RA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a secondary analysis from a previous cross-sectional online survey questionnaire study involving adults currently using GLP-1RA for weight reduction (N = 69, 49.6 ± 12.3 years old, 35.9 ± 9.1 kg/m2). Three-day food records were analyzed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), a validated score that indicates overall diet quality. The 13 HEI components were scored from average 3-day food records and calculated using 95 % confidence intervals (CI). A Bonferroni correction applied significance accepted at p = 0.0038. Additionally, 95 % CI were calculated for calories, macronutrients, and fiber intake reported for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A 95 % CI revealed a total HEI score of 54 ± 12 (51.4, 57.3), significantly below the HEI goal (p &lt; 0.0038). All components, except added sugars, were significantly under the max score. There was no significant difference for HEI scores based on duration of GLP-1RA use. The largest number of calories were consumed at dinner, averaging 649 compared to 538, 392, and 391 calories at lunch, breakfast, and snacks, respectively. Further, 40 % of the total daily protein intake occurred at dinnertime.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Within the sample of patients using GLP-1RAs, dietary quality was suboptimal for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood and plant proteins, dairy and fatty acids. Future research is needed to determine if HEI scores change before, during, and after GLP-1RA treatments and nutrient timing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100195"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144614392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical activity as a moderator of the association between central obesity and Type 2 diabetes in Asian American older adults","authors":"Kevin H. Kim ,&nbsp;Mojgan Sami ,&nbsp;Kathleen S. Wilson ,&nbsp;Koren L. Fisher","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Asian American older adults (65+) face elevated risks for central obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study tested whether moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) moderates the association between central obesity and T2DM, hypothesizing that the odds of T2DM linked to central obesity would be lower at higher levels of MVPA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Generalized logistic regression models were used to test whether MVPA moderated the association between central obesity and T2DM, adjusting for demographic, cultural, and health-related covariates. Moderation was evaluated by comparing odds ratios from models using uncentered versus centered interaction terms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>MVPA significantly moderated the association between central obesity and T2DM risk in older Asian Americans. Among individuals with central obesity, achieving the recommended threshold of 150 min of MVPA per week was associated with 43 % lower odds of T2DM (p &lt; 0.001), based on comparisons of regression models incorporating uncentered versus centered interaction terms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Increasing time spent in MVPA was associated with a lower likelihood of T2DM among Asian American older adults with central obesity. Further research examining these associations within specific Asian American subgroups will be critical for the development of culturally relevant recommendations and tailored lifestyle interventions with the potential to address diabetes-related health disparities in this population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100224"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum regarding clinical trial numbers in previously published articles","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100217","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100217"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the role of digital health technologies in assessing functional mobility and physical activity: Insights from qualitative interviews in adults with obesity or overweight","authors":"Jeremiah J. Trudeau ,&nbsp;Brian Winger ,&nbsp;Theresa Hunter Gibble ,&nbsp;Lisa M. Neff ,&nbsp;Chris Marshall ,&nbsp;Chloe Carmichael ,&nbsp;Daniel M. Ford ,&nbsp;Elizabeth Collins","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Digital health technologies (DHTs) offer passive, objective, and continuous monitoring of difficult-to-report mobility-related behaviors like physical activity (PA) and functional mobility (FM), which are important concepts of interest in obesity-related clinical studies. This study was conducted to identify which aspects of FM/PA are meaningful to people living with obesity or overweight and establish how those concepts can be measured by passive monitoring using DHTs.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Qualitative concept elicitation interviews were conducted among 4 groups of adults (≥18 years) with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m²) and no obesity-related complications, overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m²) with type 2 diabetes, overweight with obstructive sleep apnea, and overweight with lower-limb osteoarthritis. Two rounds of interviews were conducted to first identify the most important concepts of interest relating to FM/PA and then determine what level of change in FM and PA would be considered meaningful and important in the context of obesity treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 48 participants were recruited for Round 1 (n = 24) and Round 2 (n = 24). The most frequently reported concepts of interest identified for FM and PA were walking on a flat surface, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), climbing stairs, walking uphill, and standing. All four most frequently reported concepts of FM/PA in Round 1 (MVPA, going up stairs, walking, and standing) were also considered relevant and bothersome in Round 2. The majority of the participants confirmed that measuring step count and changes in minutes of MVPA would be meaningful for them with respect to treatment for obesity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>People with obesity or overweight reported the ability to perform MVPA, going up stairs, walking, and standing as meaningful FM/PA outcomes. DHTs have the potential to provide relevant information about the functional status of people with obesity and could be more frequently implemented in obesity treatment studies and clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using the stages of change model to develop an understanding of caregiver intent for family behavior change following pediatric testing for genetic obesity: A qualitative analysis","authors":"Eileen Chaves ,&nbsp;Emily Kunkler","doi":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Obesity rates continue to rise in children and adolescents worldwide. The heritability of obesity is estimated to be 40–80 %. Genetic testing for monogenic causes of obesity in the clinical setting is increasing; however, how results of these tests affect family behaviors is unclear. The objective of this study was to understand caregiver intent to change family behaviors following genetic testing for obesity.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The sample from this qualitative analysis derives from a larger study identifying mutations on the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) pathway. Inclusion criteria included participation in the main study, aged 2–17 years, and a history of severe obesity and hyperphagia. Caregiver-child dyads were recruited to ensure equal representation of genetic results across racial/ethnic subgroups (Non-Hispanic White, Black, Hispanic). A third of participants in the main study enrolled in the sub-study. Structured caregiver interviews were analyzed using grounded theory.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty caregivers were female, 55 % White, 45 % Black, and 5 % Hispanic. Mean caregiver age was 42.3 ± 6.5 years and BMI 40.5 ± 7.9 kg/m². Majority of children were male (55 %), mean age was 10.0 ± 4.7 years and BMI 40.8 ± 9.9 kg/m². Interview themes related to all stages except for maintenance stage in the Stages of Change Model (SoC). After receiving their child's genetic test results, regardless of outcome, the majority of caregivers in the study reported either remaining in the contemplation, preparation, or action stage or were motivated to move forward to a more action-oriented stage.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Genetic testing for pediatric obesity, regardless of test outcome, motivates caregivers to move forward within the SoC Model or to remain in their current stage. These findings suggest that engaging caregivers to have their child with obesity tested for a genetic cause of obesity does not cause families to stop engaging in behavior change, unless the family was not ready to engage in behavior change prior to genetic testing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100977,"journal":{"name":"Obesity Pillars","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100227"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145527907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}