Can reduced oxygen in the air lead to weight loss? That’s what biomedical researcher Dr. Pennington’s Claire Berryman is investigating the ‘Low Oxygen and Weight Status’ or LOWS study, which is currently recruiting participants. The study is open to adults between the ages of 22 and 65 and lasts a maximum of four months.
The study begins with a two-week weight maintenance phase, during which all foods are provided to study participants. The participants are then given a weight-loss diet for eight weeks and are asked to sleep in a tent above their bed. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: a group whose tents have normal oxygen levels or a group whose tents have reduced oxygen levels, similar to high-altitude areas such as Aspen, Colorado at 8,000 feet above sea level. Throughout the study, participants’ body weights and metabolic changes will be carefully monitored to understand how varying oxygen levels affect weight loss.
“Both groups can expect to lose weight because everyone is put on a calorie-restricted diet for eight weeks,” says Dr. Berryman, associate professor of clinical sciences and head of Pennington Biomedical’s Nutritional Physiology Lab. “The study offers participants the unique opportunity to sleep with a specialized tent over their bed, the same type of tents used by elite athletes to simulate high-altitude conditions for performance benefits. We are investigating whether lower oxygen levels in the air lead to an increase in energy expenditure, a decrease in appetite, greater weight loss and better insulin sensitivity.”
The research emerged from previous research by Dr. Berryman in which she examined the health and performance of soldiers during high-altitude training missions. Data from this study indicated that weight loss in this otherwise healthy population was greater at higher altitudes than under comparable conditions at sea level. Such effects can negatively impact soldiers’ readiness and performance, but can be beneficial for those who are overweight.
While diet and exercise take center stage in weight loss research, Dr. Berryman’s study additional factors that may play a role in the body’s calorie-burning potential. Pennington Biomedical is proud to have recruited some of the leading minds in biomedical research to our facility. The inventive research of Dr. Berryman is rooted in her past experiences and her dedication to discovering new pathways to metabolic health.”
Dr. John Kirwan, executive director of Pennington Biomedical
The current study by Dr. Berryman at Pennington Biomedical is investigating low oxygen levels as a potential weight loss aid in obese adults. Participants will receive compensation of up to $2,000 for participating in the trial.