Oxytocin for Weight Loss in Adolescents

In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity and its complications in both children and adults. Earlier treatment substantially reduces the likelihood of developing complications later in life while concurrently improving quality of life and decreasing mortality. Therefore, it is essential to develop safe and effective therapeutic strategies for weight loss, particularly in adolescents. Oxytocin (OXT), a hypothalamic peptide hormone that regulates energy balance, is a novel neuroendocrine weight-loss therapeutic in adults with obesity because it simultaneously reduces energy intake and increases energy expenditure and is well-tolerated. Data are currently lacking regarding effects of OXT administration in adolescents with obesity.

The current study is a 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) of OXT vs. placebo in 10-18-year old adolescents with obesity. We hypothesize that OXT administration will decrease weight as a consequence of decreased caloric intake and increased energy expenditure, both partially mediated by reduced hypothalamic inflammation (such inflammation drives weight gain by increasing food intake and reducing energy expenditure). Further, OXT will improve metabolic risk markers, such as visceral and intrahepatic fat, systemic inflammation, and serum lipids.

Inclusion criteria

• Males and Females, 10-18 years
• Obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile for age and gender)
• Willingness to maintain current diet and lifestyle for the duration of study participation

Exclusion criteria

• Current substance abuse
• Use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs or dietary/herbal supplements that may affect weight if dose increased in the three months preceding the baseline visit and/or if they plan to increase the dose during the 18 weeks of study participation.
• Greater than 5kg weight loss over 3 months;
• Follows a nonstandard diet (e.g., Paleo, Atkins, raw diet, macrobiotic diet)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Prolonged QT interval
• Chronic inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory conditions
• Epilepsy
• TSH > 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) >2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine >1.5 mg/dl
• Hyponatremia
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding or refusal to use contraception not containing estrogen throughout the study if female and sexually active
• MRI exclusion criteria such as the presence of a pacemaker or cerebral aneurysm clips
• Weight >450 lbs due to limits for MRI and DXA scanners
• Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus if HbA1c >8%
• Active eating disorder