Modifiable Predictors of Neural Vulnerabilities for Obesity

Obesity Clinical Trial

Official title: Modifiable Predictors of Neural Vulnerabilities for Obesity

Status Enrolling by invitation

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine how certain factors in childhood and adolescence relate to neural vulnerabilities for obesity in young adulthood. It is hypothesized that specific individual and environmental factors will significantly predict neural vulnerabilities for obesity.

Clinical Trial Description

Studies aimed at elucidating neural vulnerability factors for obesity - including high food reward sensitivity and poor food regulation - hold particular promise. However, relatively little is known about the modifiable factors that contribute to these neural vulnerabilities, thus precluding the development of potentially powerful interventions to promote healthy long-term weight trajectories. Further, the limited research in this area lacks critical developmental and environmental context. The current proposal addresses these gaps by examining the roles of selected modifiable cognitive (executive control), behavioral (diet, sleep), affective (negative affect), and environmental (obesogenic environment) factors throughout childhood and adolescence in predicting emerging neural vulnerabilities for obesity during the pivotal transition to young adulthood. The specific aims are to: 1) Determine the impact of executive control development across childhood and adolescence on food reward sensitivity and regulation in young adulthood; 2) Determine the impact of a set of behavioral and affective factors in adolescence (i.e., diet, sleep, negative affect) on food reward sensitivity and regulation in young adulthood; and 3) Explore the impact of the obesogenic environment encountered in adolescence on food reward sensitivity and regulation in young adulthood. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Obesity

• NCT number: NCT04522947
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Nebraska Lincoln
• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 30, 2020
• Completion date: April 1, 2025