A Two-Part Intervention to Target Cardiovascular Health

June 22, 2026 updated by: Alice Kuo, MD, PhD, MBA, University of California, Los Angeles

Autism Research Consortium on Physical Health: A Two-Part Intervention to Target Cardiovascular Health

Obesity is one of the most common health conditions among autistic young people and its prevalence rises at faster rates for autistic-relative to non-autistic-individuals. This places them at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality before they enter adulthood. Studies have identified three key contributing factors to CVD outcomes in autistic individuals: unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and chronic stress.

This study will explore the effectiveness of two CVD-focused primary care interventions for autistic individuals (ages 9-26): (1) lifestyle medicine consultations tailored towards supporting health-promoting behaviors; and (2) a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention tailored towards addressing chronic stress that contributes to excess weight and maladaptive eating behaviors and results in obesity and CVD. Participants and their caregivers will be randomly placed into either the Lifestyle Medicine Group, CBT Group, or combined Lifestyle Medicine with CBT Group. Participants will respond to questionnaires and surveys measuring lifestyle habits, stress, and psychological risk factors at their first visit, 6-month visit, and 3 months post-intervention visit. Over the course of 6 months, participants will attend virtual sessions (up to three times a month) in accordance with their intervention group.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Autistic individuals experience almost three times the mortality rate relative to non-autistic populations, and are disproportionately likely to experience obesity-with increasing rates beginning in childhood and adolescence-relative to both the general population and those with other developmental conditions. Obesity is one of the most common health conditions among autistic young people and its prevalence rises at faster rates for autistic-relative to non-autistic-individuals. This places them at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality before they enter adulthood.

Studies have identified three key contributing factors to CVD outcomes in autistic individuals: unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and chronic stress. Taken together, this study addresses a critical gap in the field: lack of appropriate and effective healthcare/lifestyle interventions for autistic individuals with CVD and/or experiences of chronic stress that lead to obesity and poor cardiovascular health. These efforts require dedicated interventions selected for their impact on two key mechanisms underlying obesity and CVD: lifestyle and ACEs/chronic stress.

This study will explore the effectiveness of two CVD-focused primary care interventions for autistic individuals (ages 9-26): (1) lifestyle medicine consultations tailored towards supporting health-promoting behaviors; and (2) a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention tailored towards addressing chronic stress that contributes to excess weight and maladaptive eating behaviors and results in obesity and CVD. Participants and their caregivers will be randomly placed into either the Lifestyle Medicine Group, CBT Group, or combined Lifestyle Medicine with CBT Group. Participants will respond to questionnaires and surveys measuring lifestyle habits, stress, and psychological risk factors at their first visit, 6-month visit, and 3 months post-intervention visit. Over the course of 6 months, participants will attend virtual sessions (up to three times a month) in accordance with their intervention group.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

130

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • • Have a diagnosis of autism or be told by a healthcare provider that you have autism

    • Be between the ages of 9 and 26
    • Have a BMI greater than the 84th percentile
    • English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • • Children younger than 9 years of age

    • Adults older than 26 years of age
    • Individuals without a diagnosis of autism
    • Individuals with a BMI less than the 84th percentile

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: 1) Lifestyle Medicine Group
This group will receive the Lifestyle Medicine Intervention. This intervention is comprised of 6 monthly lifestyle medicine consultations with a health coach.
Behavioral: Lifestyle Medicine
The intervention is a series of lifestyle medicine consultations.
Active Comparator: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Group
This group will receive the CBT Intervention. This intervention is comprised of 12, twice-monthly CBT sessions over the span of 6 months.
Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The intervention is a series of CBT sessions.
Active Comparator: Lifestyle Medicine with CBT Group
This group will receive both the Lifestyle Medicine and CBT Interventions.
Behavioral: Lifestyle Medicine with CBT Group
Receives both Lifestyle Medicine and CBT interventions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Behavior Assessment System for Children: Third Edition (BASC-3)
Time Frame: Administered at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
A series of instruments designed to help aid in the diagnosis and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults between the ages of 2 and 25 - captures self- and/or caregiver reported psychological distress.
Administered at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) Nutrition in Action Diet Screener
Time Frame: Administered at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Self- and/or caregiver reported diet, physical activity, sleep, stress, and motivation to change.
Administered at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Screener (PEARLS/ACEs)
Time Frame: Administered at Baseline
Captures adverse childhood experiences.
Administered at Baseline
General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ)
Time Frame: Administered at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Captures general knowledge of nutrition and food groups.
Administered at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Project EAT-IV Survey
Time Frame: Administered at Baseline
Self- and/or caregiver reported diet, physical activity, sleep, and stress.
Administered at Baseline
Participant and Caregiver Survey
Time Frame: Administered at final intervention visit (6-month mark).
Addresses participant and caregiver experience in the study - captures acceptability and feasibility of intervention.
Administered at final intervention visit (6-month mark).
Childhood Autism Rating Scale: Second Edition (CARS-2)
Time Frame: Administered at Baseline
Identifies autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and the severity of their symptoms.
Administered at Baseline
ASD DSM-5 Checklist
Time Frame: Administered at Baseline
Captures diagnostic criterion from clinicians when used to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Administered at Baseline
Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scales: Third Edition (Vineland-III)
Time Frame: Administered at Baseline
Used to measure adaptive behaviors and aid in the diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Administered at Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) indicators
Time Frame: Collected at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Height (cm)
Collected at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) indicators
Time Frame: Collected at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Weight (kg)
Collected at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) indicators
Time Frame: Collected at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Waist circumference (cm)
Collected at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) indicators
Time Frame: Collected at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.
Blood pressure (mmHg)
Collected at Baseline, at final intervention visit (6-month mark), and 3-Months post-intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles

Collaborators

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Alice Kuo, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 30, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 25-1848
  • 6 UM4MC54990-01-01 (Other Grant/Funding Number: HRSA)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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