Episode 2: The Heart of Participation: What Brings Patients to Trials

In this episode, we hear from Sarah, a patient living with obesity and a passionate advocate, as she shares her personal experience participating in clinical trials. Sarah reflects on the emotional and practical motivations that drive patients to join studies—from the hope of accessing new treatments to the desire to contribute to scientific progress. She emphasizes the importance of transparency, empathy, and wraparound support in trial design, and how these elements can empower patients to stay engaged. Sarah also discusses the challenges that can lead to disengagement, such as logistical burdens, unmet expectations, and lack of recognition for non-scale victories. Her insights highlight the need for patient-centric approaches that prioritize quality of life, reduce stigma, and treat obesity as a chronic condition. This episode offers a compelling look into the patient perspective and calls for a reimagining of clinical trial engagement strategies to better serve individuals living with obesity. Participants: Host: Claudia Filozof, Vice President and Therapeutic Head Obesity, MASH, and Hepatology at Fortrea Sarah Le Brocq - Founder & Director, All About Obesity (www.allaboutobesity.org )