Lifestyle Coaching and Stress Therapy to Support Heart Health in Autistic Young People
Tests lifestyle coaching, stress-focused therapy, or both in autistic young people for heart health.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: A Two-Part Intervention to Target Cardiovascular Health
Key facts
- Where
- Los Angeles, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 9 and 26 years old?
Source: NCT07673172, who can take part
Where in United States
- 1100 Glendon AveLos Angeles, United StatesNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Trial code
- NCT07673172
- Record updated
- 11 September 2026
- Original description
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.Read full original descriptionShow less
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.
Inclusion: • 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: • 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.