FMRI of Dietary Decision-making in Food Addicted Participants Compared to Non-food Addicted Participants

NCT05101863 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: C20-522020-A02777-32
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Why in some situations can words soothe our cravings? This research proposal will test the power of self-generated reasons for behavioural change in food addiction, which concerns about three out of ten persons and causes major life hazards such as obesity, diabetes and cancer. While food addiction is becoming more and more frequent in western societies, not much is known about its underlying neurocognitive mechanisms and how to tackle it. This study aims to investigate if and why certain types of affirmation-based therapies such as motivational interviewing (MI) are beneficial for the treatment of food addiction. The working hypothesis proposes that cognitive regulation-based self-control underpins the neurocognitive shift of a patient's willingness to change addictive behaviour, generated by the patient during MI therapy of food addiction. To test this hypothesis this study combines functional magnetic resonance imaging with behavioural testing of dietary decision-making following a participant's change or sustain talk statements. It will compare three groups of participants with and without food addiction and obesity and lean controls. This study will contribute to the improvement of therapies based upon talking oneself in and out of addiction promoting goals. Findings will provide a better understanding of how our everyday life dietary decision-environments prompt good intentions such as improving long-term nutritional quality to actual behaviours such as forgoing immediate desire.

Conditions

Food Addiction, Obesity, fMRI, Decision-making, Motivational Interviewing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• BOLD signal difference between talk types

  contrast in BOLD signal between change and sustain talk in food-addicted obese participants

  30 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• BOLD signal difference between talk types and participant groups

  30 minutes

• Self control during dietary decision-making

  30 minutes

• Food addiction one month after motivational interviewing

  15 minutes

• dietary habits one month after motivational interviewing

  15 minutes

Study Arms (3)

Normal-weight, NON-food addicted

Behavioral: Motivational interviewing

obese food addicted

Behavioral: Motivational interviewing

obese NON-food addicted

Behavioral: Motivational interviewing

Interventions

Motivational interviewing BEHAVIORAL

MI is a goal-oriented style of communication, and focuses on resolving a patient's ambivalence, while eliciting his/her own reasons to change addictive behavior, also known as change talk.

Normal-weight, NON-food addicted; obese NON-food addicted; obese food addicted

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

3 groups: * obese, food addicted participants * obese, NON-food addicted participants * normal-weight, NON-food addicted control participants

You may not qualify if:

• bad MRI quality
• drop out

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France: lead

Study Sites (1)

Liane Schmidt

Paris, Île-de-France Region, 75013, France

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Rodrigues B, Flament B, Khalid I, Rampanana M, Frileux S, Aubertin H, Oppert JM, Fossati P, Koban L, Poitou-Bernert C, Rotge JY, Schmidt L. The neural pathways of change: an fMRI study of the effects of behavioral change suggestions on value-based dietary decision-making. Int J Obes (Lond). 2026 Feb 10. doi: 10.1038/s41366-026-02018-1. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 41667838 DERIVED

Related Links

• Publication reports results

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Food Addiction; Obesity

Interventions

Motivational Interviewing

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Mental Disorders; Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Directive Counseling; Counseling; Mental Health Services; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 19, 2021
• First Posted: November 1, 2021
• Study Start: September 15, 2022
• Primary Completion: September 13, 2024
• Study Completion: October 13, 2024
• Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)