Obesity & OverweightNCT07798557
BRIDGE & Friends Trial
A study testing Social Network Curriculum in people with Obesity & Overweight, run by University of Illinois Chicago at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Aim 1. Conduct a 6-month (24-session) RCT comparing MedDiet-WL to MedDiet-SN among 268 older adults with obesity (50-79 years, BMI = 30-50 kg/m²). We hypothesize that 1) Participants in MedDiet-SN will show improvements in bodyweight/BMI and body fat compared to MedDiet-WL at post-intervention (6-months), 2)… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 to 79 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Obesity & Overweight
- What is being tested?
- Social Network Curriculum
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 532 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2026to 31 Dec 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 to 79 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 50-79 yrs old,
- BMI 30-50
- Willing to participate in all procedures
- Understand English
- Willing to make changes to diet and lifestyle
- Have access to a phone
- Plan to reside in the Chicago area for the next 12 months
Who cannot join
- Severe ischemic heart disease
- Severe pulmonary disease
- Bariatric surgery
- Cancer treatment within the past 12 months
- Current adherence to MedDiet based on dietary screening
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, 60608
Lara Blumstein, MA, 7734903311, larabeth99@yahoo.com
Marian Fitzgibbon, PhD, 3129969028, mlf@uic.edu
About this study
Official title: Weight Management and Black American Women: Targeting Social Networks as a Strategy to Improve Outcomes (BRIDGE & Friends)
Aim 1. Conduct a 6-month (24-session) RCT comparing MedDiet-WL to MedDiet-SN among 268 older adults with obesity (50-79 years, BMI = 30-50 kg/m²). We hypothesize that 1) Participants in MedDiet-SN will show improvements in bodyweight/BMI and body fat compared to MedDiet-WL at post-intervention (6-months), 2) Participants in MedDiet-SN will show improvements in diet (diet quality) and physical activity (step counts) compared to MedDiet-WL at post-intervention (6-months), and 3) Participants in MedDiet-SN will maintain these improvements at 12-months.
Aim 2. Characterize and compare differences in weight management information dissemination by 268 randomized to MedDiet-WL and MedDiet-SN. We hypothesize that MedDiet-SN participants will share information to more network members compared to participants in MedDiet-WL.
Aim 3. Compare MedDiet-SN and MedDiet-WL in 268 network members. We hypothesize that MedDiet-SN network members will show, greater improvements in BMI, body fat, diet, and physical activity than MedDiet-WL network members at 6 months. We will explore how effects may vary by network (e.g., density, relationships), and messaging characteristics (e.g., modality).
- Conditions
- Obesity & Overweight
- Being tested
- Social Network Curriculum
- Medical subject headings
- Obesity, Overweight
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Social Network CurriculumBehavioural
Also called MD-WL SN
Empowerment to share lifestyle change information within social networks
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| MD-WL | Active comparator | Mediterranean Diet Weight Loss Receives: Behavioral: Social Network Curriculum |
| MD-WL SN | Active comparator | Mediterranean Diet Weight Loss Social Networks Receives: Behavioral: Social Network Curriculum |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Physical Activity
Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire
Measured: 6 months
Anthropometrics, Body Fat
BMI, body fat measure by stadiometer and scale
Measured: 6 months
Dietary Intake
Vioscreen Food Frequency Questionnaire
Measured: 6 months
Mediterranean Diet adherence
Mediterranean Eating Patterns for Americans (MEPA) is a 16-item screener that assesses adherence to a MedDiet pattern
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Community Network Factors
General Social Survey Instrument, including support network size, characteristics, health information dissemination
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Sep 2026
- Study start1 Feb 2026
- Primary completion30 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Obesity & OverweightStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Illinois ChicagoThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 532 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois Chicago
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lara Blumstein, University of Illinois Chicago
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07798557
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-0985
- Other IDs
- 00918543,
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 1 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Weight Management and Black American Women: Targeting Social Networks as a Strategy to Improve Outcomes (BRIDGE & Friends)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07798557
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025-0985
- Conditions
- Obesity & Overweight
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 532 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois ChicagoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Aim 1. Conduct a 6-month (24-session) RCT comparing MedDiet-WL to MedDiet-SN among 268 older adults with obesity (50-79 years, BMI = 30-50 kg/m²). We hypothesize that 1) Participants in MedDiet-SN will show improvements in bodyweight/BMI and body fat compared to MedDiet-WL at post-intervention (6-months), 2) Participants in MedDiet-SN will show improvements in diet (diet quality) and physical activity (step counts) compared to MedDiet-WL at post-intervention (6-months), and 3) Participants in MedDiet-SN will maintain these improvements at 12-months.
Aim 2. Characterize and compare differences in weight management information dissemination by 268 randomized to MedDiet-WL and MedDiet-SN. We hypothesize that MedDiet-SN participants will share information to more network members compared to participants in MedDiet-WL.
Aim 3. Compare MedDiet-SN and MedDiet-WL in 268 network members. We hypothesize that MedDiet-SN network members will show, greater improvements in BMI, body fat, diet, and physical activity than MedDiet-WL network members at 6 months. We will explore how effects may vary by network (e.g., density, relationships), and messaging characteristics (e.g., modality).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| MD-WL | Active comparator | Behavioral: Social Network CurriculumMediterranean Diet Weight Loss |
| MD-WL SN | Active comparator | Behavioral: Social Network CurriculumMediterranean Diet Weight Loss Social Networks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 to 79 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- 50-79 yrs old,
- BMI 30-50
- Willing to participate in all procedures
- Understand English
- Willing to make changes to diet and lifestyle
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Severe ischemic heart disease
- Severe pulmonary disease
- Bariatric surgery
- Cancer treatment within the past 12 months
- Current adherence to MedDiet based on dietary screening
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Social Network CurriculumAlso: MD-WL SNEmpowerment to share lifestyle change information within social networks | Behavioural | MD-WL, MD-WL SN |
Primary outcome
Physical Activity
Time frame: 6 months
Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire
Anthropometrics, Body Fat
Time frame: 6 months
BMI, body fat measure by stadiometer and scale
Dietary Intake
Time frame: 6 months
Vioscreen Food Frequency Questionnaire
Mediterranean Diet adherence
Time frame: 6 months
Mediterranean Eating Patterns for Americans (MEPA) is a 16-item screener that assesses adherence to a MedDiet pattern
1 secondary outcome
Community Network Factors
Time frame: 6 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Social Network Curriculum in people with Obesity & Overweight, run by University of Illinois Chicago at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Lara Blumstein, MA (+1 77304903311, lbb@uic.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Physical Activity (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Sep 2026.