The University of British Columbia in cooperation with the Canadian Center for Functional Medicine are now recruiting volunteers for a study investigating a new natural health product (a dietary fibre) for weight loss which will be supervised by a medical doctor and registered dietitian.

What is required if you want to volunteer:

• As part of our formal study, we will be asking participants to take either treatment or placebo soft gel capsules at each meal for 14 weeks and given healthy lifestyle advice.
• We will also be collecting small samples of blood to measure various health parameters like cholesterol, insulin and blood sugars.
• We will also assess your body composition throughout the study and on 2 occasions at the start and middle of the study you might need to wear a 24 hour blood glucose monitor for 4 consecutive days.
• Furthermore, you will be required to complete some tracking documents throughout the study.

If you would like to participate, what do
you have to do now?

• If you are still interested in participating in the research study, we now need to determine if you qualify before we can enroll you into the study. This will involve answering our online screening questionnaire and submitting the responses online.
• These questions ask you about your current and past medical / health state.
• There is a possibility that some of these questions may make you uncomfortable or distressed; if so, please leave them blank. You don’t have to answer those questions if you don’t want to.
• You also need to understand that all information that we receive from you online, including your name and any other identifying information, will be strictly confidential and is secure on our website.
• The purpose of these questions is only to determine whether you are eligible for our larger study.

People who qualify for the study:

• Are able to provide written informed consent
• 20 - 45 years old
• Overweight or Obese
• Not living with diabetes

People who do not qualify and are not eligible to participate in the study:

• People who have gained or lost 3 kg or 6.5 pounds in the past 3 months should not participate.
• People who have a known diagnosed eating disorder like anorexia and bulimia.
• People who have lung, liver, kidney disease or known diabetes should not participate.
• People who have had a heart attack or stroke within the last 6 months should not participate.
• People who have been diagnosed with neurological or psychological illness within the last 6 months, including depression necessitating hospitalization.
• People who have had surgical procedures for weight loss e.g. gastric-bypass surgery should not participate.
• People who abuse tobacco or quit smoking in the last 12 months, alcohol (more than 2 drinks a day), marijuana or other illegal drugs should not participate.
• People who have had any form of gastric and/or esophageal strictures or obstructions should not participate.
• Women who are pregnant, breast feeding or who have started on oral contraceptives in the last 6 months should not participate.