Effectiveness of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone in Reducing Abdominal Fat in People Who Are Obese
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Obesity, a condition that occurs when a person has too much body fat, affects about 31% of
people in the United States. It is associated with increased risk of diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. Abdominal obesity, in particular, is
also associated with low levels of growth hormone, a hormone that affects rate of growth and
the way the body uses energy. Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) is a substance that
makes the body naturally increase its own growth hormone levels. Administering GHRH to people
who are obese may help return their growth hormone levels to normal and, in turn, may lead to
reduced abdominal fat and improved cardiovascular function. This study will evaluate the
effectiveness of synthetic GHRH in decreasing the amount of abdominal fat and improving
cardiovascular function in people who are obese.