LEAF® BUDS and CONTRAVE

LEAF® WMC and Research

As part of LEAF® WMC’s ongoing commitment to supporting individuals living with obesity, we are involved in research projects with partners in the healthcare community. Our participation in these projects helps our community benefit from the knowledge gained for the promotion of healthy weight management strategies. It also means that our clients who agree to participate in one of our research projects can sometimes benefit from reduced costs of participating in LEAF® WMC programs.

  • LEAF® BUDS AND CONTRAVE

    CONTRAVE® is a weight loss drug approved by Health Canada for weight and obesity management. This research aims to understand how CONTRAVE® works and affects the body. As part of this clinical trial, participants will be given either CONTRAVE® or placebo (i.e., a non-medical pill) along with participation in LEAF® BUDS for 4-weeks. The cost of the medication and the LEAF® BUDS program is covered as part of this clinical trial.

    Before and after the 4-weeks of medication and LEAF® BUDS, you will be asked to visit laboratories at the University of Ottawa and The Royal. During these visits, you will be asked to complete questionnaires along with several health assessments. An MRI image and EEG testing will also be conducted during two of these visits, before starting the medication (Contrave or placebo) and after the 4 weeks.

  • Participation in LEAF® Research Programs Benefits Many

    Are you eligible to participate in LEAF® BUDS AND CONTRAVE RESEARCH? Please review the following to find out.

    Participants must:

    • Be 18-64 years of age (gender and sex will be noted; recruitment is all-gender inclusive)

    • Have a BMI>30

    • Not be currently taking weight management medications

    • Have no known allergy to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE® (e.g. naltrexone, bupropion, lactose).

    • Have no known problems of galactose intolerance, lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.

    • Not be currently using antidepressants, thyroid medication, or any medication that could affect appetite (e.g., ADHD medication).

    • Not have uncontrolled hypertension

    • Have no history of cardiac defects or symptoms suggestive of any cardiac condition (not including coronary artery disease)

    • Not have diabetes

    • Have no history of glaucoma

    • Have no personal history of seizure disorders

    • Have no history of thyroid disease, chronic liver, or renal disease

    • Have no history of bipolar disorder

    • Have no history of psychosis

    • Not be currently taking MAO inhibitors (within 14 days), pressor agents, coumadin, anticonvulsants, or phenylbutazone, or other bupropion-containing products (such as Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Aplenzin or Zyban), or CYP2B6 inhibitors (e.g ticlopidine or clopidogrel).

    • Have no chronic use of opioid, opiate agonist (Methadone) or partial agonists (Buprenorphine).

    • Not be pregnant nor planning to become pregnant during the intervention or currently nursing.

    If you have determined you are eligible and want to participate, please use the form below. One of the research team members will soon be in touch with you.

Based on the above criteria, if you think you qualify please get in touch.

Learn more about LEAF® BUDS AND CONTRAVE RESEARCH.

  • Don't Qualify for LEAF® BUDS AND CONTRAVE Research?

    Looking for more individual support? Work directly with our LEAF Registered Dietitians and together we’ll build and refine realistic weight management strategies that work for you.

    Learn more about LEAF® BUDS

    Learn More

This study has been approved by the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre’s Research Ethics Board (#2023004)