Age, race and ethnicity, and sex of participants in clinical trials related to obesity
Authors' conclusion
Progress has been made in reporting and representation, although gaps remain. Given obesity-related health disparities and reasons for inclusion beyond population-based representation (e.g., subgroup analyses), continued efforts are needed to enhance reporting and representation.
Study context
- Population
- Obesity-related interventional studies completed in the United States with results on ClinicalTrials.gov, January 1, 2012, to October 13, 2023eligible studies of 847 records
- Participants
- 449 participants
- Outcome
- Frequency of sociodemographic (age, race and ethnicity, sex) reporting and sample representation (equitable, over, or under) vs US Census data and obesity-specific estimates
Methodological detailsClinicalTrials.gov registry analysis, comparison with US Census data and obesity-specific estimates
- ClinicalTrials.gov registry analysis
- Comparison with US Census data and obesity-specific estimates
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Studies reporting sex
- >99%
- Studies reporting older age
- 33%
- Studies reporting race
- 75%
- Studies reporting ethnicity
- 57%
- Race and ethnicity reporting increased over time
- p values <0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Age, race and ethnicity, and sex of participants in clinical trials related to obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 11 April 2025. doi:10.
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