Youth Overweight and Diabetes Research Study
Researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are conducting a study to better understand the causes of Type 2 Diabetes in children.
Fast Facts
Overweight or BMI ≥ 85th percentile
Boys ages 9–15 or girls ages 8–13 years old
Compensation
Provided Up To $1,400 + transportation & meals
Conducted in
Los Angeles, CA
Study Background
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is investigating the causes of Type 2 Diabetes in children and teenagers.
More children are now being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, a condition that used to be known as “adult-onset” diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, amputations, and blindness. Researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) are conducting the DISCOVERY Study to better understand the causes of Type 2 Diabetes in children. The study will examine a range of factors, including lifestyle, behavior, genetics, and biology.
Findings from the DISCOVERY Study may help guide more effective prevention and treatment strategies for Type 2 Diabetes in children.
Study Background
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is investigating the causes of Type 2 Diabetes in children and teenagers.
More children are now being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, a condition that used to be known as “adult-onset” diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, amputations, and blindness. Researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) are conducting the DISCOVERY Study to better understand the causes of Type 2 Diabetes in children. The study will examine a range of factors, including lifestyle, behavior, genetics, and biology.
Findings from the DISCOVERY Study may help guide more effective prevention and treatment strategies for Type 2 Diabetes in children.
Additional Information
In this research study, called DISCOVERY of Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes in Youth (DISCOVERY), we are trying to understand why Type 2 Diabetes develops in children and teenagers. We aim to better understand whether biological, behavioral, and lifestyle factors determine whether some children develop Type 2 Diabetes while others do not. The study will examine factors such as body weight, blood sugar regulation, activity levels, diet, race and ethnicity, and family history.
Your child may be eligible for this study if they meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Girls ages 8–13 years and boys ages 9–15 years
- Overweight or (BMI ≥85th percentile for age)
- Evidence of elevated blood sugar levels (to be evaluated at the study site)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Medical conditions or medications that could affect blood sugar regulation or growth (to be reviewed during screening)
- Other criteria determined by the study team to ensure safety and accurate results
The DISCOVERY Study lasts three years. There are two in-person visits per year, during which assessments of growth, metabolism, and health are conducted. Each visit may include a physical examination, pubertal staging, blood tests, a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), questionnaires about lifestyle and behavior, and detailed medical and family history. The study team will also conduct a phone/text check-in twice a year.
As a participant, you may receive up to $1,400.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.