How to Find Weight Loss Clinical Trials in the United States

Introduction

Weight loss and obesity are major health challenges in the United States – about two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Clinical trials play a crucial role in developing new strategies to combat obesity by testing medications, lifestyle interventions, surgeries, and other approaches. If you’re interested in finding a weight loss clinical trial to join (or to learn about the latest research), it’s important to know what types of trials exist and how to search for them. This guide provides an overview of weight loss trial types and step-by-step instructions on finding trials across multiple registries, with a focus on using AllClinicalTrials.com. We’ll also cover how to use the AllClinicalTrials platform, what eligibility and participation involve, and other reputable resources (like ClinicalTrials.gov, CenterWatch, and Trials Today) for finding clinical trials.

Types of Weight Loss Clinical Trials

Weight loss clinical trials can vary widely in their approach. Here’s an overview of the main types of weight loss trials you might encounter (many studies combine aspects of more than one type):

• Pharmaceutical Trials: These trials test new weight loss medications or drug therapies. Participants might receive an experimental drug (or a placebo) to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in promoting weight loss. Such trials are usually categorized by phase (Phase 1 to 4) to indicate the stage of testing. Example: A recent pharmaceutical trial of the drug tirzepatide (a weekly injectable) resulted in an average ~20% body weight reduction in obese adults, demonstrating how powerful new medications can be. Pharmaceutical trials help determine proper dosages, side effects, and how well a weight loss drug works compared to placebo or standard treatments.
• Behavioral/Lifestyle Trials: These focus on lifestyle changes – for example, diet, exercise, counseling, or digital health tools – to achieve weight loss. They often test structured programs or interventions to help participants adopt healthier habits. Example: One ongoing trial is investigating how a behavioral intervention combined with technology (a smartphone app) affects weight loss in young adults. Such studies might involve regular sessions with nutritionists or trainers, group support meetings, or the use of activity trackers and apps. Behavioral trials aim to find effective strategies for weight loss and maintenance through lifestyle modification.
• Surgical Trials: Surgical trials evaluate procedures or medical devices designed to induce weight loss. This can include trials of bariatric surgery techniques (like gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy) or novel devices that assist in weight loss. These studies often track outcomes like amount of weight lost, complication rates, and long-term health improvements. Example: A trial at Mayo Clinic tested a new device called the AspireAssist Aspiration Therapy System to see if it helps people with obesity lose weight. Surgical trials might compare a new procedure against the standard of care or test improvements to existing surgeries, and they provide data on safety, efficacy, and patient results for these more invasive interventions.
• Nutritional Trials: Nutritional trials examine the effects of specific diets or dietary supplements on weight loss. They might compare different types of diets or eating patterns, investigate the timing of meals (e.g. intermittent fasting), or test supplements intended to aid weight management. Participants in these studies follow a prescribed diet plan or take a nutritional product, and researchers measure outcomes like weight change, metabolic health, and adherence. Example: One randomized trial assigned overweight adults to either a healthy low-fat diet or a healthy low-carbohydrate diet for 12 months – and found no significant difference in weight loss outcomes between the two diets. This illustrates how nutritional trials can provide evidence on which dietary strategies are most effective. Other nutritional studies may look at high-protein vs. high-carb diets, meal replacements, or the role of certain nutrients in weight control.

Each type of trial addresses weight loss from a different angle – from cutting-edge drugs to lifestyle coaching to surgery – and each has its own eligibility criteria and risks/benefits. Knowing the types of trials helps you focus on studies that match your interests (for instance, if you prefer a non-surgical approach, you might look for diet or drug trials instead of surgical ones).

Finding Weight Loss Clinical Trials Across Registries

There are several ways to search for weight loss clinical trials, and multiple registries list ongoing studies. The primary U.S. clinical trials registry is ClinicalTrials.gov, a database maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). ClinicalTrials.gov is comprehensive, with information on hundreds of thousands of studies around the world (over 485,000 studies as of 2024). On ClinicalTrials.gov, you can search by condition (e.g. “obesity” or “weight loss”), by location (to find trials in your state or city), by recruitment status (e.g. recruiting studies), and more. The site will show you all studies that match, along with details like the trial phase, interventions, sponsor, and contact information. Tip: On ClinicalTrials.gov you can also use the Advanced Search to apply filters (such as phase of trial, age of participants, specific keywords, etc.) to narrow down the results.

While ClinicalTrials.gov is an authoritative resource, it can be a bit overwhelming for newcomers due to the volume of data and its clinical terminology. In the United States, weight loss studies might also be found through other platforms and registries. For example, some National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes provide curated lists – the NIH’s NIDDK (which focuses on diabetes and digestive/kidney diseases) offers a pre-filtered view of currently recruiting obesity trials on ClinicalTrials.gov. Additionally, patient-oriented websites like CenterWatch and ResearchMatch (discussed later) offer search tools or listings for trials.

A particularly useful approach is to use an aggregator platform that pulls trials from multiple sources into one place. AllClinicalTrials.com is one such platform – it is designed to let you search “all clinical trials in one place”. AllClinicalTrials aggregates trial listings (including those from ClinicalTrials.gov and other sources) and presents them in a user-friendly interface. Instead of checking multiple websites, you can perform one search on AllClinicalTrials and see many relevant studies. According to the site, with “hundreds of thousands of research studies listed across a number of platforms and government sites,” finding the right trial can seem daunting, and their goal is to simplify the process.

AllClinicalTrials.com allows you to search by condition, location, and other filters to quickly find matching trials. For example, the platform has a dedicated category for Weight Loss Clinical Trials, which as of this writing shows over 100 active studies across the United States. You can refine the results using filters like state, city, age range, and whether healthy volunteers are allowed. This means if you want to see weight loss trials near you, you can select your state and city; if you are (or are not) open to studies that take healthy volunteers (people without the condition), you can toggle that filter. The result is a tailored list of weight loss trials that meet your criteria, drawn from a broad pool of recruiting studies.

In the next section, we’ll walk through how to navigate AllClinicalTrials.com specifically to find and sign up for weight loss trials. This platform will be our focus because it streamlines searching across multiple trials registries and offers handy tools for potential participants.

Using AllClinicalTrials.com to Find Weight Loss Trials

AllClinicalTrials.com is designed to be straightforward for patients to use. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to search for weight loss clinical trials on this platform and make the most of its features:

1. Access the Website and Start a Search: Go to AllClinicalTrials.com and click on the “Clinical Trials” search page. You’ll see options to enter a condition and a location in the search bar. To find weight loss studies, you can simply type a term like “Weight Loss” (or related terms such as “Obesity”) into the condition field. You may also navigate via the menu: for example, under Treatments there is a category for Weight Loss. Enter your desired location (e.g., “Texas” or “New York, NY”) if you want to find trials near you. Then hit the Search button to see matching trials.
2. Apply Filters for Location, Age, etc.: The search results page provides additional filters (often on the left side). You can narrow results by selecting your state or city, specifying an age range, and toggling “Healthy volunteers allowed” on or off. For instance, if you only want trials in California for adults over 50, you could set State = California and Age = 50+. The ability to filter by age and healthy volunteer status is useful – healthy volunteer means you do not have the condition (in this case, you might be a healthy person participating as a comparison or control subject). By adjusting these filters and clicking “Apply filters,” you’ll whittle down the list to trials most relevant to your situation. Note: You can also filter by condition or related conditions – the Weight Loss category may include studies on overweight, obesity, or weight management in various contexts. The AllClinicalTrials FAQ confirms you can filter the database by condition, location, institution, and phase of trial to find what you need.
3. Browse and Review Trial Listings: After searching, you’ll see a list of trials matching your query. Each trial listing will display key details: the trial title, the recruitment status (e.g. “Recruiting”), the sponsor (the organization or company running the study), the location(s) of the trial, and often a snippet of the eligibility criteria (such as the required age range, eligible sexes, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted). You’ll also see a brief description of the condition or intervention under study and sometimes the study phase (Phase 1, 2, 3, etc., if applicable). For example, a weight loss study listing might show “Sex: All; Age: 18+; Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted,” indicating the trial is open to men and women age 18 or older who have the condition (not healthy controls). Take time to scroll through the list and identify trials that sound interesting or relevant to you – perhaps by location, by the type of intervention (a medication vs. a diet program), or by specific populations (some studies focus on certain groups, like adolescents or people with type 2 diabetes).
4. View Detailed Study Information: Once a trial listing catches your eye, click the “Learn More” button (or the study title) to see the full details of that trial. AllClinicalTrials will display a dedicated page for the study with comprehensive information, often sourced from the official registry record. Here you can read the purpose of the study, a more detailed description of the intervention, and the eligibility criteria spelled out in detail (including inclusion and exclusion criteria). You will also find the study’s identifier (e.g., an NCT number from ClinicalTrials.gov) and contact information for the research staff or trial coordinator. It’s important to review the eligibility requirements closely – they will tell you things like the age range allowed, specific health conditions or lab values required, and any reasons that would prevent participation (for example, certain medical conditions or prior surgeries might be exclusion criteria). Make sure you meet the criteria before proceeding. If you have questions about the study details or requirements, note the contact info (email or phone) provided so you can reach out to the study team.
5. Check If You Qualify and Start the Application: If you’re interested in a particular trial, AllClinicalTrials.com offers tools to help you take the next step. You may see a “See if you qualify” button on the listing – clicking this might prompt a quick questionnaire or direct you to begin the sign-up process. When you’re ready, click the “Get started” or “Apply” button on the trial page. AllClinicalTrials will guide you through a 5-step application process where you create a profile and answer questions about your health (this serves as a basic medical profile). Provide accurate information about your age, medical history, current medications, etc., as prompted. This profile helps the platform determine if you match the trial’s requirements and helps the researchers evaluate your eligibility. Don’t worry – all personal health information is kept confidential and is used only for matching you with trials and informing the study team.
6. Submit Your Information: After completing the application steps, submit your information through the platform. AllClinicalTrials will send your application to the clinical trial coordinator or researcher in charge of recruitment. The study team will review your details to confirm whether you fit the study and then contact you (often by email or phone) to discuss next steps. This might include scheduling an initial screening appointment or phone interview. At this point, your part is essentially done – you wait to hear back from the researchers. Pro tip: If you don’t hear back in a couple of weeks, you can use the contact information from the trial details to reach out and inquire about your application status.
7. Stay Updated (Subscribe for New Trials): AllClinicalTrials.com can also help you stay informed about new studies as they become available. By creating an account and saving your preferences (e.g. indicating interest in weight loss/obesity trials), you may receive email notifications or updates when a new trial in that category is posted. The platform’s purpose is to match patients with trials, and they will use the info in your profile to alert you to relevant opportunities. For example, if a new weight loss study opens up in your state and you’ve indicated interest, you might get an email about it. This subscription feature is extremely useful given that new trials start frequently. (On other platforms like CenterWatch, volunteers can also sign up for email alerts by medical condition – so consider subscribing on any platform you use, to not miss new trials.)

Using AllClinicalTrials.com can simplify the process of finding a suitable weight loss study. It combines the search power of large registries with convenient filters and an integrated application system. Always remember, though, that you’re not limited to one platform – it can be wise to search multiple sources. Next, we’ll discuss eligibility and what it’s like to participate once you find a trial, and then highlight some additional reputable trial registries.

Eligibility and Participant Expectations

Eligibility Criteria: Every clinical trial has specific eligibility requirements that you must meet to join. These criteria are set by the researchers to ensure participants are appropriate for the study’s goals and to protect their safety. Common eligibility factors include age range, sex, health status, BMI or weight, presence or absence of certain conditions, prior treatments, and more. For example, a weight loss drug trial might require participants to have a body mass index (BMI) above a certain value (e.g. BMI ≥ 30) but no serious heart problems. Another study might only accept females of a certain age, or might exclude anyone who has had bariatric surgery. It’s important to read these inclusion/exclusion criteria carefully. If you do not meet the criteria, you won’t be able to enroll in that trial (though you might find another trial that better fits your profile). These rules aren’t meant to discriminate – they are there to make the study results more reliable and to ensure that the intervention is safe for the participants who join. When you use AllClinicalTrials or other databases, always review the Eligibility section of the trial description. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, you can contact the study coordinators for clarification.

Applying and Enrollment Process: Once you’ve identified a trial and confirmed that you meet the eligibility requirements, the next step is to apply or enroll. The exact process can vary by study and by how you found it. If you used AllClinicalTrials.com, you likely went through the online application steps and submitted your info, as described above. That means the research team has your contact details and basic health information, and they will reach out to discuss enrollment. If you found the trial on another registry (such as ClinicalTrials.gov or CenterWatch), you might need to contact the study team directly – usually an email and phone number for the study coordinator or principal investigator is provided in the listing. Send a polite email expressing your interest and providing a few key details about yourself (age, location, relevant health info), or call the phone number provided. The research staff will typically respond to guide you through a pre-screening.

Before you can officially join a trial, you will go through an informed consent process. The study team will schedule a meeting or phone call to explain all the details of the trial: its purpose, what procedures or treatments you’ll undergo, the time commitment, potential risks and benefits, etc. They will answer your questions, and if you agree to participate, you’ll sign an Informed Consent Form. After consent, often there is a formal screening visit where they might do baseline measurements (height, weight, blood tests, etc.) to verify you meet all criteria. If all goes well, you’ll be enrolled in the study.

What Participants Can Expect: Participating in a weight loss clinical trial is somewhat like joining a structured program with medical oversight. Expect an initial screening and lots of monitoring and support. According to AllClinicalTrials, participants in weight loss trials can anticipate a structured plan that includes initial health screenings, detailed explanations of all study procedures, and regular follow-up visits for monitoring progress. Depending on the type of trial, the intervention might involve specific diets, exercise routines, behavioral counseling, or medical treatments (such as a study drug or placebo). In a pharmaceutical trial, for instance, you might receive a weekly injection or a daily pill and periodically have lab tests and vital signs taken. In a behavioral weight loss trial, you might attend weekly meetings, use an app or food diary, and have your weight recorded biweekly. Surgical or device trials might require you to undergo a procedure (with all the usual pre- and post-operative care) and then attend follow-up visits to track outcomes.

Throughout the study, the research team will closely monitor your health and progress. They may ask you to keep logs (e.g., of your food intake or exercise), fill out questionnaires about how you’re feeling, or undergo periodic scans/blood tests to collect data. Safety is a top priority – every U.S. trial is approved and overseen by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure risks are minimized. If at any point you experience concerning side effects or issues, the study doctors will intervene and provide care. You’ll have contact info for the study staff to report any problems or ask questions any time.

Time Commitment: The commitment for a trial can range from a few weeks to a year or more, so make sure you understand the timeline. Some weight loss trials last 3-4 months (common for intensive diet or drug studies), while others, especially those looking at weight-loss maintenance, might follow participants for 1-2 years. You might need to visit the clinic regularly (weekly, monthly, or at specified intervals). The schedule will be outlined in the consent form. Ensure you can adhere to the visit schedule and requirements (like fasting before a lab test, or refraining from other weight loss programs during the study).

Costs and Compensation: One common concern is “Do I have to pay for anything? Will I be paid?” In clinical trials, the study typically covers the costs of any experimental treatments and trial-specific procedures – you generally do not pay to be in a trial. In fact, many trials offer compensation or reimbursements to participants. This might not be a “salary,” but often covers your travel, parking, meals, or time inconvenience for study visits. The amount and form of compensation vary by study. For example, a trial might pay participants $50 per visit, or provide a stipend upon completing the study. Some weight loss trials (especially longer ones) may give an incentive for sticking with it. Always ask the coordinator about compensation and reimbursement policies. Remember, the primary benefits of joining a trial are accessing new interventions (often at no cost), receiving close medical supervision, and contributing to research that may help others. Any financial compensation is usually a secondary perk to offset your expenses, not an enormous payday.

Your Rights as a Participant: As a volunteer in a clinical trial, you have rights. Participation is completely voluntary – you can leave the trial at any time if you choose, for any reason. If you do decide to withdraw early, it’s recommended you inform the study team and follow their instructions (they may want a final safety check or questionnaire, for example). Quitting early might mean you don’t receive the full intervention, but you are never locked in if you feel uncomfortable. Also, your personal information and health data are kept confidential in the study results; trials are typically reported in aggregate, and any data tied to you is coded to protect your identity. Before you sign the consent form, the researchers will explain these rights and how your privacy is protected.

In summary, expect a structured, well-monitored experience in a weight loss clinical trial. You’ll have the support of professionals, you’ll learn a lot about your own health and habits, and you’ll be contributing to scientific knowledge that could improve weight loss treatments for everyone. Just be sure to understand the commitment and follow instructions closely – and don’t hesitate to communicate with the study staff throughout the process.

Additional Resources for Finding Trials

In addition to AllClinicalTrials.com, there are several other reputable resources and registries you can use to search for weight loss clinical trials:

• ClinicalTrials.gov: This is the official U.S. government registry of clinical studies, maintained by NIH. It includes both federally and privately funded trials worldwide. ClinicalTrials.gov allows you to search by condition, location, keywords, etc., and it will list all studies (past and present) that match. You can filter for “Recruiting” trials to find ones currently enrolling. Each study entry provides detailed info similar to what you see on AllClinicalTrials (purpose, eligibility, contacts, etc.). Because it’s so comprehensive, ClinicalTrials.gov is often the first place to look. However, be prepared to sift through results – for example, a search for “weight loss” might return trials ranging from obesity drug studies to studies of weight loss in cancer patients, so you may need to refine terms (such as adding “obesity” and filtering by phase or location). The site is free to use and updated constantly; as of early 2024 it listed approximately 485,000 studies globally (including thousands of weight loss-related trials). Website: ClinicalTrials.gov (no sign-up required to search).
• CenterWatch: CenterWatch is a well-known website that lists active clinical trials by medical condition and geographic region. They maintain a patient-focused database where you can browse conditions alphabetically. For instance, you can navigate to the “W” section and find Weight Loss trials. CenterWatch often highlights industry-sponsored trials and those seeking volunteers. One useful feature is their email notification service: you can sign up as a volunteer on CenterWatch, indicate your conditions of interest, and receive email alerts when new trials are posted in those categories. This can be a convenient way to stay updated on, say, new obesity or weight management studies in the database. The site also provides educational materials about the clinical trial process. Website: centerwatch.com (the clinical trials listings page).
• Trials Today (by ResearchMatch): Trials Today is a search tool provided by ResearchMatch, a national volunteer registry supported by the NIH and Vanderbilt University. Trials Today essentially provides a simplified interface to search for recruiting trials on ClinicalTrials.gov – “a quick way to search the thousands of studies available on ClinicalTrials.gov”. What makes it different is that it guides you through a few questions to tailor the search to you, and then it can connect you with the researchers. If you find a trial you’re interested in (say a weight loss study in your state), Trials Today will prompt you to send your information to the study team via ResearchMatch. You’ll need to create a free ResearchMatch volunteer profile (which includes providing your contact info and some health details). Once that’s done, ResearchMatch will contact the trial team on your behalf – essentially sending them a message that you are a potential interested participant, along with your profile (but only if you explicitly agree to be contacted for that study). This service is secure and protects your privacy until you choose to share info. It’s a great tool if you’re not comfortable reaching out to researchers directly; ResearchMatch acts as an intermediary. Many weight loss trials can be found through Trials Today since it draws from the ClinicalTrials.gov database. Website: trialstoday.org (or access via researchmatch.org).
• Other Resources: There are other registries and matching services you might explore. The WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) is a global search portal that includes U.S. and international trial registries, which could be useful if you’re curious about global weight loss studies. Some patient advocacy groups or professional organizations maintain trial finders as well. For example, the NIDDK (mentioned earlier) and other NIH institutes often list trials related to their mission. Large medical centers or universities might have their own research volunteer pages – if you have a nearby academic hospital, check their website for clinical trial listings (many have a “Find a Clinical Trial” feature filtered to their location). Additionally, some private companies have trial search tools (for instance, pharmaceutical companies like Lilly have their own finder for trials involving their drugs). While these sources are beyond the scope of this guide, keep in mind that ClinicalTrials.gov will cover nearly all trials in the US, and platforms like AllClinicalTrials, CenterWatch, and ResearchMatch/Trials Today are built to make that information more accessible.

Conclusion: Researching weight loss clinical trials may seem complex at first, but with the right tools it becomes much easier. Start by understanding what kind of trial you are interested in – drug, lifestyle, surgical, etc. – then use a reliable registry or platform to search for current studies. AllClinicalTrials.com offers an all-in-one, user-friendly search with filtering and the convenience of an integrated application process. Be sure to review eligibility criteria closely, and don’t hesitate to reach out to researchers with questions. If you decide to participate, you’ll be contributing to valuable research that could improve treatments for weight management and help combat the obesity epidemic. Good luck with your search, and always consult with your healthcare provider if you need advice on whether joining a trial is right for you.

Sources and References: This guide drew on information from AllClinicalTrials.com (for platform features and trial listings), the ClinicalTrials.gov database (for general trial info) as well as authoritative organizations:

• AllClinicalTrials – Weight Loss Clinical Trials category and FAQ
• NIH/NLM – ClinicalTrials.gov descriptions and stats
• NIDDK (NIH) – Info on obesity research and trials
• CenterWatch – Patient notification service
• ResearchMatch/Trials Today – Search tool and process
• Examples of recent weight loss trials in literature (for context on interventions).