Obesity / Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) / Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) · Interventional Study

tDCS With Cognitive Training to Reduce Impulsivity and Weight in Veterans With Obesity

ClinicalTrials.gov · September 8, 2026

Preliminary Why this matters to you Expert discussion

Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.

AI Summary

This is a planned interventional study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov investigating whether transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive training reduces impulsivity and weight in veterans with obesity. No results have been posted in this registry record; the trial is actively recruiting and outcomes will be measured at approximately 2 and 4 months post-baseline.

What was studied

Interventional, Randomized, Parallel, Triple masking, Treatment purpose. Obesity; age from 18 Years; to 80 Years. Intervention: Active tDCS with Cognitive Training. Compared with: Sham tDCS with Cognitive Training — Sham Comparator. n = 124. 1 site: United States.

Key findings

Safety

Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.

Who this may help

Results from this trial may inform whether combined tDCS and cognitive training is effective for reducing impulsivity and weight in veterans with obesity. Currently no evidence is available from this study.

Plain-language summary

This is a planned interventional trial with no results posted; enrollment is ongoing and primary outcomes are not yet reported.

Study design

As stated by the source record.

MethodsPrimary outcome measures: Change in task impulsivity as measured by the NIH Flanker (assessed at Change between baseline and Visit 11, Visit 12 (approximately 2 months), and Vi…); Change in weight (assessed at Change between baseline and Visit 12 (approximately 2 months), and Visit 13 (ap…)

DesignInterventional, Randomized, Parallel, Triple masking, Treatment purpose

PopulationObesity; age from 18 Years; to 80 Years

Sample size124

InterventionActive tDCS with Cognitive Training

ComparatorSham tDCS with Cognitive Training — Sham Comparator

Setting1 site: United States

Reported figures

Quoted from the source exactly as published.

Estimated enrollment124

Primary outcome measure 1Change in task impulsivity as measured by the NIH Flanker (baseline to Visit 11, Visit 12 [~2 months], Visit 13 [~4 months])

Primary outcome measure 2Change in weight (baseline to Visit 12 [~2 months] and Visit 13 [~4 months])

Clinical bottom line

Caveats

No results posted; study is recruiting and outcomes are not yet reported.
Phase designation not specified in registry record.
Blinding and allocation concealment methods not detailed in registration.
Effect sizes, p-values, and comparative efficacy cannot be assessed from registry record alone.

Evidence assessment

Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.

Study design

moderate

Interventional design with sham control; phase not specified in registration.

Directness

moderate

Addresses impulsivity and weight directly; cognitive and neurophysiological mechanisms.

Consistency

insufficient

No results posted; cannot assess consistency with other evidence.

Risk of bias

insufficient

Sham control present but blinding, allocation concealment, and other methods not detailed.

Sample adequacy

moderate

Estimated enrollment 124 participants; final sample size and power not stated.

What is missing. This record has no key findings. That is a gap in the analysis, not a judgement about the study.

Source abstract

Registry record from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05225233). This is a study registration, not published results. Lead sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development. Recruitment status: RECRUITING. Phase: NA. Study type: INTERVENTIONAL. Enrollment: 124 participants (ESTIMATED). Conditions: Obesity. Interventions: DEVICE: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); DEVICE: Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Primary outcome measures: Change in task impulsivity as measured by the NIH Flanker , Change between baseline and Visit 11, Visit 12 (approximately 2 months), and Visit 13 (approximately 4 months); Change in weight , Change between baseline and Visit 12 (approximately 2 months), and Visit 13 (approximately 4 months). Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can increase the effectiveness of cognitive training to reduce impulsivity in individuals with obesity, and to evaluate weight change with these individuals. The long-term goal of this research is to develop new treatment approaches for individuals with obesity.

Follow from this

Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.

ObesityNCT05225233VA Office of Research and DevelopmentSham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)