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Decision-Making and the Relationship to Food Intake in Kids

Completed
Conditions
Pediatric Obesity
Registration Number
NCT02855398
Lead Sponsor
Penn State University
Brief Summary

The purpose of this 18-month project is to investigate how decision-making influences food choice and consumption in children ages 7 to 11 years old. Although several studies suggest that the ability to make good decisions relates to eating behaviors, no studies have looked at how food reward influences the decision-making process to impact actual food intake. This proposal will answer these questions and bridge this gap in knowledge, which could lead to the development of more effective interventions for childhood obesity. To accomplish this, the investigators have assembled a diverse team with expertise in food intake, nutrition, and decision sciences. First, the investigators will establish if there are differences in decision-making between children varying in weight status. Second, the investigators will determine if performance on behavioral decision-making tasks relates to food consumption in the laboratory. Third, the investigators will examine response functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response to various rewards (i.e. food and money) and determine if this is influenced by child weight status. Fourth, the investigators will examine differences in fMRI BOLD at rest in decision-making regions are correlated with food intake and weight status. Eighty-two children will participate in our study. The long-term goal of this project is to investigate if there are differences in brain regions corresponding to these behaviors in overweight children and if these differences relate to eating behaviors in this population. Children will undergo fMRI while playing a reward task as well as consume meals in our laboratory. Decision-making will also be assessed by having children complete various behavioral measurements of reward and inhibitory control.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
142
Inclusion Criteria
  • Right-handed
  • English as native language
  • Reading at/above grade level
  • Not Claustrophobic
  • Generally Healthy
Exclusion Criteria
  • Left-handedness
  • Metal in or on body that cannot be removed
  • Claustrophobia
  • Medication usage that may alter brain activity or blood flow
  • Medical disorder that may impact comfort of safety in MRI scanner
  • Food Allergies
  • Dietary Restrictions
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Psychiatric Disorders

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response to various reward types (food, money, no reward).Collected at fMRI scan at week 4

Regions of interest BOLD analysis of an fMRI card-guessing task for various reward types

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response at rest (resting-state fMRI)Collected at fMRI scan at week 4

Regions of interest BOLD analysis of resting-state fMRI to examine differences in brain regions of interest at rest

Behavioral inhibitory control taskCollected at either week 1-3 (randomized)

Measured by performance on a go/nogo task

Behavioral reward inhibitory control taskCollected after the behavioral inhibitory control task (same visit), which is either week 1-3 (randomized)

Measured by performance on a go/nogo task with a reward incentive

Behavioral risk-taking and reward taskCollected at either week 1-3 (randomized)

Measured by performance on the hungry donkey task

Behavioral dietary self-control assessmentCollected at either week 1-3 (randomized)

Measured by performance on a dietary self-control task

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Energy intake at baselineCollected at either week 1-3 (randomized)

Measured at an objective laboratory test-meal (kcal and grams)

Energy intake at a buffet mealCollected at either week 1-3 (randomized)

Measured at an objective laboratory test-meal (kcal and grams)

Energy intake after a meal preloadCollected at either week 1-3 (randomized) following the baseline meal

Measured at an objective laboratory test-meal (kcal and grams)

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response to various reward types (food, money, no reward).Collected at week 4

Whole brain BOLD analysis of an fMRI card-guessing task for various reward types

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response at baselineCollected at week 4

Whole brain BOLD analysis of an fMRI card-guessing task for various reward types

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Pennsylvania State University

🇺🇸

University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

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