Hunger and Learning Study in Preschoolers

University of Virginia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Ingestive Behavior; Obesity; Hunger; Food Preferences

Treatments: Other: usual diet; Other: diet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03861208

SBS 2018007700

Details and patient eligibility

About

This prospective random controlled cross-over intervention studies is designed to ascertain if children feel different levels of hunger and fullness before and after eating test meals consisting of high-satiety vs. usual foods and if the child's perceived hunger/fullness is related to their salivary ghrelin levels and a variety of learning outcomes. Data are collected at the Diet and Nutrition (DAN) laboratory on repeated study days (8am - 4 pm).

Full description

The investigator's previous research has shown that preschoolers recognized changes in the feelings of hunger/fullness before and after a single test meal. If preschooler's feelings of hunger are associated with their ghrelin (hunger hormone) levels is not known. This study is designed to assess children's changes in feelings of hunger throughout the day (8 pm to 4 pm) and to measure both subjective feelings of hunger and salivary ghrelin levels before and after a standardized test meal (lunch).

An important secondary outcome related to children's feelings of hunger is their ability to learn. Currently, there is lack of data on the direct link between perceived hunger/fullness and learning processes. This study addresses these gaps using preschooler's perceived feelings of hunger and fullness (using a published 4-point scale (Kranz S.et al. "High-Protein and High-Dietary-Fiber Breakfasts Result in Equal Feelings of Fullness and Better Diet Quality in Low-Income Preschoolers Compared with Their Usual Breakfast" J Nutr doi: 10.3945/jn.116.234153, 2017) and a battery of learning tests (HTKS, KRISP, Stroop-style tasks, Woodcock Johnson vocabulary test, DCCS, and curisoty measures.)

Enrollment: 22 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 4 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• healthy children

Exclusion criteria

• no food allergies
• no medications that affect behavior/learning/appetite

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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22 participants in 2 patient groups

diet

Experimental group

Description:

high fiber high protein foods served in childcare centers are offered for meals and snacks

Treatment:

Other: diet

usual diet

Other group

Description:

foods representing the usual diet in childcare centers are offered for meals and snacks

Treatment:

Other: usual diet