Taste Reward Processing in Pediatric Obesity

Stanford University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pediatric Obesity

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01908153

UL1TR000093 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study aims to provide a better understanding of the neural influence of eating behavior in the development of childhood obesity. Children ages 4-8 will be recruited to examine fMRI brain response to pictures that signal delivery of a chocolate milkshake and to the taste itself. The brain response will be compared to body mass index percentile scores for each child to help us determine whether brain differences present in adolescents and adults with obesity are present in young children.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 8 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• ages 4-8
• parent available to complete surveys in English

Exclusion criteria

• no presence of metal in body
• no claustrophobia
• no psychiatric or neurological condition that will affect brain function

Trial design

30 participants in 2 patient groups

Overweight/Obese

Description:

Children with BMI percentile of 85 or above.

Healthy Weight

Description:

Children with BMI percentile between 15 and 85.