How to Volunteer for a Weight Loss Study

Studies of medical conditions, often referred to as clinical trials, are essential to the health care system. They provide information on how a disorder, condition, or disease works and how it can be relieved or cured. Participating in a clinical trial will expose you to new therapies and possibly help you and many others in the future. Weight loss studies are particularly popular at the moment, and with just a little information you can volunteer for one yourself.

Instructions

• 1

  Find a weight loss study in your area. The easiest way to do that is to go to the Clinical Trials Website and type "weight loss AND (your location)" into the search form. The website will give a list of all the studies available. Find one that both interests you and is recruiting, and click on it.

• 2

  Read the purpose of the study and see if it interests you. If it does not, then move on to the next study.

• 3

  Scroll down to the "Eligibility" section to see if you can participate in the trial. Make sure you fit the "Inclusion Criteria" exactly and do not have any of the "Exclusion Criteria."

• 4

  Read the details of the study carefully. Examine how long and how involved the process is, and make sure you have time. If it is a diet study, make sure you are not allergic to the foods they want you to eat. Look at the possible side effects of the study and consider if it is worth the risk.

• 5

  Research the investigator thoroughly. Make sure the organization is trustworthy and respected.

• 6

  Contact the study recruiter to enroll. This information is usually under "Contacts and Locations" at the bottom of the trial's information page.