NCT01087346

Brief Summary

Summary:

  • A few studies have explored the effects of providing parents with health information about their children. However, more information is needed about the relationship between awareness of health information and changes in behavior. This study will investigate the impact of health information on choices that parents make about food for their children.
  • Mothers and fathers with a biological child between the ages of 3-7 years old may be eligible for this study. Participants are recruited from the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
  • In this study, before visiting the research center, participants will answer online questionnaires about their children's health and eating habits and their own health and eating habits.
  • At the research center, participants will use a virtual reality model of a buffet to make food choices for their children. Participants will be introduced to the computer-based virtual buffet scenario as a training session to prepare for using the buffet during the experimental context. While in the virtual environment, participants wear a virtual reality helmet that allows them to see the virtual buffet scenario.
  • After the training session, participants will watch an interactive computer presentation about a health topic.
  • Participants will then visit the virtual buffet scenario again for the formal session, and will choose a virtual lunch meal for their child as before.
  • At the end of their visit, participants will complete post-test questionnaires about their experiences during the experiment and other research-related information.
  • Participants will be asked to complete a follow-up questionnaire online a week after their visit
  • The total time for the study visit is approximately 90 minutes. The participants children will not be asked to take part in the study. Eligibility: \- Men and Women at least 18 years of age who have a biological child between the ages of 3 and 7 who has no major diet-related health conditions, developmental delays, or disabilities. You may not take part in the study if you have a history of seizures and/or are pregnant.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
1,148

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2010

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 13, 2010

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 16, 2010

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 19, 2010

Completed
8.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 12, 2019

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 12, 2019

Completed
Last Updated

November 24, 2025

Status Verified

November 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

8.6 years

First QC Date

March 13, 2010

Last Update Submit

November 21, 2025

Conditions

Overweight

Keywords

Risk PerceptionObesity RiskHealthy VolunteerHV

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • The number of calories selected for participant's index child in a virtual buffet food selection task

    The number of calories selected for participant's index child in a virtual buffet food selection task

    1 visit

Study Arms (4)

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Information about child health

Behavioral: Reading Information

Family Environment Information

EXPERIMENTAL

Information about family environment factors in children's obesity risk

Behavioral: Reading Information

Gene times Family Environment Information

EXPERIMENTAL

Information about interactions between genetic and family environment factors in children's obesity risk

Behavioral: Reading Information

Genetic Information

EXPERIMENTAL

Information about genetic factors in child obesity risk

Behavioral: Reading Information

Interventions

Reading InformationBEHAVIORAL

Reading information about risk factors for obesity among children

ControlFamily Environment InformationGene times Family Environment InformationGenetic Information

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 100 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Study 1:
  • All participants will be healthy adult women over the age of 18 (though in practice the age range is likely to be constrained naturally by the required age of the index child).
  • having a self-reported body mass index of greater than or equal to 25
  • having some amount of familiarity with their family health history
  • having a biological child between the ages of 4 and 5 inclusive, who lives in the same household at least 1 day out of the past 30 days, and who has no major food allergies or diet-related health conditions, developmental delays, or disabilities
  • having the ability to read and write in English
  • being able to come to the NIH Clinical Center for one visit

You may not qualify if:

  • having a vestibular or seizure disorder;
  • having a high propensity for motion sickness;
  • known pregnancy; (4) uncorrected low vision or hearing;
  • (5) inability to complete tasks in the virtual environment;
  • (6) past or current history of eating disorder;
  • (7) NHGRI employees
  • Study 2:
  • All participants will be healthy adults over the age of 18 (though in practice the age range is likely to be constrained naturally by the required age of the index child).
  • having a self-perception of being overweight
  • having a biological child between the ages of 3 and 7
  • inclusive (of any weight), who has no food allergies to buffet items (e.g., dairy, wheat, fruit) or diet-related health conditions, developmental delays, or disabilities that would severely limit food
  • choices on the virtual buffet and who does not have a vegan or gluten-free diet
  • self-reporting that the parent is responsible for feeding to the child to criterion
  • having the ability to read and write in English
  • being able to come to the NIH Clinical Center for one visit
  • +9 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Bouhlal S, Abrams LR, McBride CM, Persky S. Cognitive and affective factors linking mothers' perceived weight history to child feeding. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2018 Nov;72(11):1583-1591. doi: 10.1038/s41430-017-0071-0. Epub 2018 Feb 6.

    PMID: 29410480DERIVED

  • Bouhlal S, McBride CM, Ward DS, Persky S. Drivers of overweight mothers' food choice behaviors depend on child gender. Appetite. 2015 Jan;84:154-60. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2014.09.024. Epub 2014 Oct 6.

    PMID: 25300916DERIVED

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Overweight

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

OvernutritionNutrition DisordersNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Susan J Persky, Ph.D.

    National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Sponsor Type
NIH
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 13, 2010

First Posted

March 16, 2010

Study Start

November 19, 2010

Primary Completion

July 12, 2019

Study Completion

July 12, 2019

Last Updated

November 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations

US(1)