Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Obesity is the most common disorder of childhood and adolescence, which often continues into adulthood leading to long-term health problems. Early-onset obesity is often caused by MC4R mutations. Recently, a study of a new device, the Mandolean, demonstrated a reduction in body mass index (BMI) in adolescents when used with a weightmanagement programme. The Mandolean is a weighing scale that measures rate of eating and satiety (fullness), and provides feedback to help children change their eating behaviours. Beneficial effects of Mandolean training have been found on hormones related to hunger and fullness. The first aim of this study is to use brain imaging to find out whether weight reduction following Mandolean training is associated with changes in activity in satiety-related brain regions. The second aim is to examine whether training with the Mandolean results in weight loss for those with MC4R mutation, and whether similar hormone and brain changes are seen as for those without the mutation.
Who can participate?
Obese adolescents without MC4R mutation, adolescents and adults with MC4R mutation, and normal weight adolescents
What does the study involve?
Obese adolescents without MC4R mutation are randomly allocated to receive either a weightmanagement programme, or the programme plus Mandolean training for 6 months. Adolescents and adults with MC4R mutation all receive the Mandolean intervention. Normal weight adolescents are also recruited as the control group. The weightmanagement programme consists of six appointments with a dietician who promotes lifestyle changes to aid weight loss. Those who receive the Mandolean receive additional training in order to eat one meal a day using the Mandolean. BMI, rate of eating and satiety are measured, and participants undergo two identical brain imaging sessions at the start of the study and after 6 months.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
This study may benefit participants as previous research suggests that training to eat more slowly using the Mandolean may reduce BMI, and currently this treatment is not available through the NHS. By participating in this study, participants in both groups also receive a more intensive level of support with their weight management than might normally be offered in primary care. Participants are given £20 in Amazon vouchers as a thank you and to reimburse them for their time taken to attend the brain imaging sessions. Travel expenses are paid on presentation of receipts for journeys made to and from the imaging centre. If requested, participants are given a picture of their brain, taken from the structural brain scan. It will be made clear to the participants that the scans are not to be used for medical diagnosis. Some participants may become anxious in the MRI environment. Participants are informed of the confined space and noise that is to be expected during the scanning. If a participant wishes to leave the scanner during the procedure they are able to do so and are given full instructions as to how they can indicate any discomfort. There is a risk of anxiety and need for extra medical procedures in the unlikely event that brain abnormalities are detected during the MRI scan. There is a risk of bruising following insertion of the cannula (tube) for blood sample collection. This is usually minor, and every care will be taken to minimise bruising by the Lead Research Radiographer. There is a risk of fainting in some individuals during sample collection. A check is included in the screening form for those who have a fear of having blood taken, to minimise the number of participants for whom this process is anxiety provoking.
Where is the study run from?
University of Bristol (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2013 to March 2017
Who is funding the study?
The NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyle (University of Bristol and the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Julian Hamilton-Shield
Study website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT/CTIS number
IRAS number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
Protocol_040613_v2
Study information
Scientific title
Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to assess the impact of Mandolean training on the neural control of obesity in young people: a feasibility study for the Bristol Nutrition BRU
Acronym
MANDO
Study hypothesis
The principal research hypothesis is that Mandolean training (in addition to the standard weight-management care) will improve speed of eating, portion size determination and perceptions of satiety in obese young people, and that this will lead to greater weight loss than the standard care group alone. Moreover, it is hypothesised that Mandolean training will have a significant impact on the brain's control of food consumption and responsiveness to food cues in obese adolescents.
Ethics approval(s)
Frenchay NRES Committee, SouthWest, 06/06/2013, IRAS project ID: 124722, REC ref: 13/SW/0076
Study design
Feasibility/pilot study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)
Other
Study type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Childhood obesity and neuroimaging
Intervention
Participants will be randomly allocated to one of 2 groups: (1) Standard care or (2) Standard care plus Mandolean training.
Standard care intervention: Participants initially allocated to the standard care arm will receive a package of care specifically tailored for the treatment of obesity as per routine care at the Care of Childhood Obesity (COCO) clinic in the Childrens Hospital. This will be referred to as 'standard care', although this is likely to reflect an enhanced level of care to that usually received in primary care settings.
In standard care, emphasis will be placed on implementing changes to increase levels of enjoyable physical activity to national recommended levels (60 minutes exercise a day for children) alongside a balanced diet, based on the 'Eatwell Plate' (Food Standards Agency). Families will be encouraged to set their own dietary goals and targets, with practical advice and guidance from the dietician. In encouraging activity, the approach is one of facilitation rather than prescription. Motivational interviewing techniques are used to engage patients and families in the decision-making process for lifestyle changes. This is consistent with self-determination principles and is more likely to lead to responsibility for long term change (Deci et al., 1990).
Standard care appointments will be delivered at 6 weekly intervals over a 6-month period, resulting in 6 contacts in total for this arm of the study.
Experimental intervention: During the Mandolean intervention, participants will receive the same standard care package as the control group with the addition of Mandolean therapy. The Mandolean is a portable weighing scale connected to a small computer which can generate a graphical representation of food removal from the plate with weight of food (grams) on the y axis and time (minutes) on the x axis. The patient puts a measured portion of food determined by a therapist on the scale and the computer records and displays, in real-time graphics, the removal of food from the plate as the patient eats. Patients are also asked to rate their satiety at regular intervals. During Mandolean training, the patient gradually adopts a more normal pattern of eating and satiety by following tailored training lines and curves provided by the dietician. Patients are asked to attend additional appointments with the dietician in order to be trained in the use of the scale. In total, there will be approximately 9 appointments for the patients to attend in person.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Primary outcome measure
Patient BMI SDS (standard deviation score) at the end of the intervention period, converted from measures of height and weight using a standard algorithm. Height (using a stadiometer) and weight (using calibrated weighing scales) will be measured at baseline and at 6 months
Secondary outcome measures
1. Maintained BMI or BMI SDS improvement at 6 months post therapy (12 months after study entry). Height (using a stadiometer) and weight (using calibrated weighing scales) will be measured at part of routine clinic appointments following participation in the study. Height and weight measurements will be recorded from medical notes from the closest clinic appointment to 12 months after study entry.
2. Eating speed and self-determined portion size measured using the Mandolean (weighing scale that records the rate at which food is removed from the plate) in test meals at time 0 (baseline) and 6 months (end of intervention)
3. Blood plasma levels of ghrelin and PYY, pre- and post-intervention. Blood samples will be taken during each of the two OGTT fMRI sessions at baseline and end of intervention. According to the OGTT, samples will be taken prior to glucose ingestion then 30, 60 and 90 minutes post-glucose ingestion. Blood samples will be processed and analysed using established protocols
4. Brain activity in response to (a) glucose ingestion, and (b) pictures of food, pre- and post-intervention. Brain activity will be measured during each of the two OGTT fMRI sessions at baseline and end of intervention. The Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) response will be measured in response to pictures of food
Overall study start date
11/01/2013
Overall study end date
30/03/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. The target population for the obese group will be obese adolescents and young adults aged 11 years or above with a
BMI >/= 95th percentile (definition of obesity in National Child Measurement Programme)
2. The target population for the MC4R group will be adolescents and adults with obesity confirmed to be due to MC4R mutation (Cambridge Genetics of Simple Obesity Study)
3. The target population for the control group will be normal-weight adolescents and young adults aged 11 years or above
Participant type(s)
Mixed
Age group
Mixed
Sex
Both
Target number of participants
40
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Children and adults with learning difficulties, visual or hearing difficulties, dysmorphic features suggesting other
syndromes such as PraderWilli
2. Children and adults with endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism
3. Children and adults with iatrogenic causes of obesity cranial surgery, anticonvulsant therapy
4. Children and adults whose first language is not English
5. Patients for whom it would not be safe to enter the MR environment. Contraindications for participation are:
5.1. Metal implants (internal defibrillator, cochlear implant, artificial heart valves, implanted drug infusion ports, metal
dental work if not removable, cardiac pacemaker, artificial limbs or metallic joint prostheses, metal pins, screws plates
or surgical staples, intrauterine device)
5.2. Tattoos with metallic ink or unremovable body piercing which might be attracted to the magnet used during fMRI
scanning and to avoid image distortion
5.3. Pregnancy, to avoid harm to the foetus
5.4. History of neurological disease, traumatic brain injury, mental illness
5.5. Claustrophobia, to avoid including participants with brain abnormalities or at risk of anxiety, in particular, anxiety
related to being in enclosed places
5.6. Medical health problems requiring medication, to avoid disruption to brain function and responsiveness to glucose
or test meals
5.7. Weight above 152kg due to the limits of the scanner bed, and girth of less than 210cm in order to fit inside the 70cm
diameter bore of the scanner
5.8. Vegetarian or vegan, so that the images of food shown in the cue-reactivity task are not aversive to participants
Recruitment start date
06/07/2013
Recruitment end date
08/01/2015
Locations
Countries of recruitment
England, United Kingdom
Study participating centre
University of Bristol
Bristol
BS2 8AE
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Bristol
Sponsor details
c/o Dr B Whitman
Head of Research Governance
Senate House
Tyndall Avenue
Bristol
BS8 1TH
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
Not defined
Website
ROR
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
The NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyle (University of Bristol and the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust).
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
The study documents (protocol, consent forms, PISs) are available from the study contact on request.The results of the study will be disseminated through presentations at national and international conferences, and through a planned publication in a peer reviewed open access journal, as soon as possible after analysis is complete.
Intention to publish date
30/06/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) sharing plan
The non-imaging datasets generated and/or analysed during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication. The imaging dataset analysed during the current study are currently available from the corresponding author on request, whilst under consideration for submission to a public repository.
IPD sharing plan summary
Other
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 22/11/2018 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No |