NCT07370350

Ultrasound Assessment of Tongue Characteristics in Children and Adolescents With Obesity

Standardized Tongue Ultrasound Protocol for Tongue Characteristics in Children and Adolescents With Obesity After a 30-week Inpatient Weight Loss Program

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Years – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This longitudinal observational study aims to validate ultrasound-based tongue markers related to tongue characteristics, including fat accumulation, morphologic and mechanical properties of the tongue in children and adolescents with obesity. Participants are assessed at baseline and after completion of a standardized 30-week inpatient weight-loss rehabilitation program at the Zeepreventorium (De Haan, Belgium). Tongue ultrasound parameters are examined in relation to anthropometric characteristics and obstructive sleep apnea condition.

Detailed description

This prospective observational cohort study investigates ultrasound-based tongue characteristics in children and adolescents with obesity. Participants undergo standardized submental tongue ultrasound examinations at baseline and after completion of a 30-week inpatient multidisciplinary weight-loss rehabilitation program. Ultrasound measures include tongue morphology, fat-related imaging biomarkers, and mechanical properties assessed using shear-wave elastography. Anthropometric data and validated sleep-disordered breathing questionnaires are collected in parallel. Measurement reliability is evaluated, and associations between ultrasound parameters, anthropometric characteristics, and sleep-related outcomes are explored.

Conditions

• Obesity & Overweight
• Pediatric Obesity
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Submental ultrasound	Tongue ultrasound via a submental approach. This non-invasive, risk-free and harmless protocol will study both morphological and dynamic characteristics of the tongue.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-01
• Primary completion: 2026-07-01
• Completion: 2026-08-01
• First posted: 2026-01-27
• Last updated: 2026-01-27

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Belgium