Plain-English translation of NCT06571474 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Obesity research guide →Researchers are studying how immune cells called macrophages inside fat tissue behave differently in people with obesity—particularly those whose bodies struggle to process glucose and fat properly. By comparing fat and muscle tissue samples from people with different body types and metabolic health, the team hopes to understand why some people with obesity develop serious complications like fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, while others stay relatively healthy.
Obesity affects millions of people, but not everyone with obesity gets sick in the same way. Some develop dangerous conditions like fatty liver disease and diabetes, while others don't. Understanding what's different at the cellular level could lead to better treatments for these serious complications.
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You'll have a screening visit to check if you qualify, followed by imaging scans (X-ray and MRI) to measure your body composition and fat in your liver. Then you'll stay overnight at the research center for an intravenous infusion and biopsies—small tissue samples taken from your fat and muscle. The study involves no medication or intervention; researchers are simply observing and comparing how your body works compared to other participants.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 1, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Sponsor
Bettina Mittendorfer
Collaborators
National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Enrollment target
~60 participants
Started
August 2024
Primary completion
March 2028
Age range
18 Years – 70 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in July 2025.
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Central contact
Heather McHatton
University of Missouri-Columbia
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.