What the trial was testing
The ACHIEVE enrolled 291 patients with obesity. The study was sponsored by Johns Hopkins University and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
38% of participants lost 5% or more of their weight, compared to 23% in the control group.
The New England journal of medicine · 2013 · NCT00902694
These findings — that lost 5% or more of their weight vs. 23% in the control group — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 291 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with obesity, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
If you take medication for a serious mental illness and are struggling with weight gain, this study shows that structured support can help. The program combined group sessions, one-on-one coaching, and exercise tailored to your needs. Ask your doctor or psychiatric clinic if they offer weight-management programs designed for people with mental health conditions — this approach is evidence-based and safe.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open obesity trials
Resistance Training to Prevent Muscle Loss During Treatment With Tirzepatide
Incretin-based pharmacotherapies induce significant weight loss and represent a paradigm shift in obesity treatment. However, particularly fast weight loss may be accompanied by a significant loss of muscle mass, which is associated with a reduced metabolic rate at rest and during physical activity, increased insulin resistance, limited mobility, and potential long-term adverse effects. The aim of this clinical trial is to examine the effects of resistance training versus standard of care on contractile thigh muscle volume in patients receiving the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists 'tirzepatide'.
Knee Injections for Obese Patients With Knee Arthritis
The purpose of this study is to assess obese patients with knee arthritis and determine the non-inferiority of a low dose steroid treatment vs. standard dose steroid treatment for two knee outcome measures: pain and function.