Use of Chewing Gum to Facilitate Appetite Control and Weight Loss

University of Pennsylvania

Status: Completed

Conditions: Overweight; Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Lifestyle modification; Behavioral: Lifestyle modification plus gum

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00871676

804361

Details and patient eligibility

About

This purpose of this study was to test the use of chewing gum as an adjunct to lifestyle modification to facilitate appetite control and weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.

Enrollment: 146 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 21-75 years of age
• Body Mass Index of 25-45 inclusive

Exclusion criteria

• major medical psychiatric conditions
• medications know to effect weight
• full or partial dentures
• 18 or fewer teeth
• regular gum chewing (≥ 2 pieces/day)
• use of any tobacco product
• sensitivity to the following ingredients (mint, magnolia bark, eggs, or English Muffins)
• history of PKU
• sensitivity or allergy to aspartame
• current/history of alcohol abuse or addiction (within 5 year)
• recreational drug use
• recent significant weight change (+/- 5% in previous 6 months)
• currently pregnant or nursing and willingness not to get pregnant during course of study
• participation in any other research studies
• proximity to clinic (within one hour)
• access to reliable transportation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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146 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Active Comparator group

Description:

Overweight/obese individuals being treated with lifestyle modification to facilitate weight loss.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Lifestyle modification

2

Experimental group

Description:

Lifestyle modification plus use of chewing gum to facilitate weight loss in overweight/obese persons.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Lifestyle modification plus gum