Genetic Predisposition to Food Cue Reactivity in Children

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Childhood Obesity
• Interventions: Other: Non-food Ads; Behavioral: Food Ads

• Registration Number: NCT03766191
• Lead Sponsor: Trustees of Dartmouth College

Brief Summary

This study assesses the associations between genetic factors, food-cue-related neural reactivity, self-regulatory capacity, eating in the absence of hunger (EAH), and adiposity gain in children.

Detailed Description

The investigators will assess the associations between genetic factors, food-cue-related neural reactivity, eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) in response to food cues, and adiposity gain in children. They will also determine whether self-regulatory capacity modifies these associations. The genetic factors explored specifically include FTO, MC4R, polymorphisms in genes involved in dopaminergic pathways, and a composite genetic risk score built from genome-wide obesity-related loci.

\[3/14/2020\]: Study recruitment temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-12-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-12-04
• Study First Posted: 2018-12-06
• Study Start: 2019-01-10
• Primary Completion: 2024-03-27
• Study Completion: 2024-03-27
• Status Verified: 2024-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-11-18
• Last Update Posted: 2024-11-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 189

Inclusion Criteria

• English fluency
• Willingness to participate in all study visits

Exclusion Criteria

• Relevant food allergies or dietary restrictions
• Metal in or on the body
• Claustrophobia
• Psychiatric and neurological disorders
• Relative in the study
• Appetite- or attention-altering medications or disorders

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Non-Food Ads and TV show	Non-food Ads	Exposure to non-food ads embedded in an age-appropriate TV program
Non-Food Ads and fMRI	Non-food Ads	Exposure to non-food ads during an fMRI scan
Food Ads and fMRI	Food Ads	Exposure to food ads during an fMRI scan
Food Ads and TV show	Food Ads	Exposure to food ads embedded in an age-appropriate TV program

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Food-cue-related neural activity	Baseline	Activation in brain reward regions in response to food vs. non-food cues, as measured by differences in the blood-oxygen-level dependent response during fMRI scans. Investigators will examine associations between polymorphisms in FTO, MC4R, as well as a genetic risk score with the differential neural activity.
Change in BMI	Baseline, 1-year followup	Difference between BMI z-score according to the Center for DiseaSe Control 2000 Growth Reference Curves assessed at baseline and follow-up. Investigators will assess the associations between genetic factors (polymorphisms in FTO, MC4R; and a genetic obesity risk score), food-cue-related neural activity and EAH with change in BMI.
Food-cue-related Eating in the Absence of Hunger (EAH)	Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks	Difference in kcals consumed in response to food vs. non-food cue exposure in the behavioral sessions. Investigators will examine how differential neural activity in response to food vs. non-food cues will relate to EAH. Investigators will also assess whether self-regulatory capacity diminishes this association between differential neural activity and EAH.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Dartmouth-Hitchcock; 🇺🇸 Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States