About this trial
This study will explore how children's eating behaviors are connected to brain activity and body fat levels. Researchers are especially interested in a behavior pattern called the PACE phenotype, which includes how much children eat when offered large portions, how quickly they eat, their appetite traits, and their ability to control eating. The goal is to better understand why some children are more likely to gain weight than others.
The study will include children between the ages of 7 and 9 and will follow them for one year. Researchers will use brain scans, lab-based meal observations, and questionnaires to study how children respond to food and how their eating patterns relate to body fat at the start of the study and one year later. The study will also look at how family background, parenting, and other factors might protect some children from gaining excess weight even if they show risky eating behaviors. Results may help identify which children are most at risk for obesity and guide future strategies for prevention.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Children must be of good health (with the exception of obesity being allowed) based on parental self-report.
Children should have no learning disabilities or developmental delays (e.g., ADHD, Autism, dyslexia)
Children should speak English fluently.
Children should not be on any medications known to influence body weight, taste, food intake, behavior, or blood flow, not be claustrophobic.
Disqualifiers
They are not within the age requirements (< 7 years-old or > 9 years-old) at baseline.
They are taking cold or allergy medication, or other medications known to influence cognitive function, taste, appetite, or blood flow.
They are red/green colorblind.
They do not speak English fluently.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Assessment of PACE Eating Phenotype and Related Behavioral and Neurobiological Measures