Intensive Weight Loss Intervention Versus Bariatric Surgery for Adults With Severe and Complex Obesity: the LightBAR Randomised Trial

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity

In brief

With this trial, the aim is to assess the benefits and harms of a non-surgical intensive weight loss intervention that includes total dietary replacements, behavioural support and weight-loss medication compared with bariatric surgery for people with severe and complex obesity. The interpretation of the results will help inform future care pathways for people with obesity in whom bariatric surgery is currently the only available effective treatment option.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06309238

Run by

Carsten Dirksen

People needed

500

Starts

2024-05-08

Expected to finish

2048-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-11

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Aged 18 to 60 years (inclusive) at time of screening.
• Eligible for and willing to undergo bariatric surgery, i.e., fulfilment of criteria for bariatric surgery from the respective national health authorities:
• DK: BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 with one or more of the following: T2D, severe hypertension, sleep apnoea requiring treatment, symptomatic arthrosis in lower extremities, female infertility related to overweight, or BMI>40 kg/m2 with other strong medical reasons for weight loss (28). Prior to surgery, an 8% weight loss is required as well as smoking cessation.
• UK: BMI of 35 kg/m2 to 40 kg/m2 and other significant disease (e.g., type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure), or BMI ≥40 kg/m2. Has been or is willing to receive intensive management in a specialist tier 3 obesity service (29).
• Fit for anaesthesia and surgery.
• Informed consent.

You may not qualify if…

• Prior bariatric or hiatal surgery, not including intragastric balloons or duodenal-jejunal bypass sleeve (Endobarrier™ or similar) if the device has been removed >1 year before screening.
• Use of any WLM (including liraglutide and semaglutide for diabetes) within last 3 months.
• Conditions that contraindicate or complicate total diet replacement (including type 1 diabetes or other diabetes requiring basal bolus insulin therapy or insulin pump therapy (for Denmark) and any diabetes requiring insulin therapy (for UK), phenylketonuria, or other conditions requiring strict adherence to special diets).
• Conditions that contraindicate or complicate treatment with GLP-1 receptor analogues (including history of pancreatitis or known allergies).
• Conditions that contraindicate or complicate bariatric surgery (GI motility disorders, large abdominal wall hernia, large hiatus hernia (>5cm), Crohn's disease, liver cirrhosis, or other conditions preventing laparoscopic bariatric surgery e.g. multiple previous abdominal surgery).
• Conditions that contraindicate or complicate study adherence and bariatric surgery (mental disorder, unstable psychiatric disease, recent history of alcohol/medication abuse, cancer treatment within 5 years).
• Pregnant or planning pregnancy in the next two years or currently breast feeding.
• Not achieving a 5% weight loss within 12 weeks prior to randomisation.
• People taking part in other research involving multidisciplinary obesity treatment that would compromise their participation in this trial.
• Another member of the household enrolled in the trial.
• Diagnosis of or treatment for severe eating disorder within the last 6 months.

Where it is running

• Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus Universitets Hospital — Aarhus, Denmark (enrolling)
• The Department of Medicine and Department of Surgery, University Hospital of South West Jutland — Esbjerg, Denmark (enrolling)
• The Department of Medicine and the Gastro Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre — Hvidovre, Denmark (enrolling)
• Department of Surgery, Viborg Regional Hospital — Viborg, Denmark (enrolling)
• St Richard's Hospital — Chichester, Sussex, United Kingdom (enrolling)
• Hartlands Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust — Birmingham, United Kingdom (enrolling)
• Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust — Bristol, United Kingdom (enrolling)
• The Whittington Hospital — London, United Kingdom (enrolling)
• Sunderland Royal Hospital — Sunderland, United Kingdom (enrolling)
• Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset Foundation NHS Trust — Taunton, United Kingdom (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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