Pennington Biomedical seeks families across Louisiana for COACH trial

Sponsored by Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Despite ongoing efforts, childhood obesity prevalence in the U.S. has continued to increase over the past 10 years, with over one-in-five children and adolescents affected by obesity. The prevalence of childhood obesity is higher among children facing health disparities and limited access to interventions. Across the U.S., about 22 percent of Hispanic or Latino and 20 percent of African American children have obesity, compared to about 14 percent of white children. Additionally, obesity affects about 22 percent of children who live in rural areas.

The COACH trial is enrolling 900 children ages 5 to 17 with obesity, which is classified as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. Patients and their parents are being recruited through urban, suburban and rural doctor’s offices in Tennessee and Louisiana. With funding from a $13.8 million, five-year grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, or PCORI, Dr. Staiano, along with Vanderbilt University’s Dr. William Heerman, are serving as dual principal investigators on the research study.

In Louisiana, Pennington Biomedical is recruiting families through clinics in communities across the state, including Teche Health in Franklin, Houma, Morgan City and Dulac; FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake clinics in Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Francisville, New Roads, Greenwell Springs and Denham Springs; FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes clinics in Scott and Maurice; FMOL Health | Our Lady of Angels clinic in Bogalusa; Willis Knighton’s Wonder Kids Clinic in Shreveport; and Ochsner Children’s clinics in Lapalco, New Orleans and Luling.

Those interested in participating and enrolling their child can explore more information on the trial at joincoach.org.