Food Genetics Behavior Study

NCT05783765 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 852728
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 242
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A genetic risk for obesity does not always translate to the development of obesity among children, which points to the presence of risk-modifying factors that likely relate to energy balance behaviors as key behavioral drivers. Using an integrated approach to comprehensively examine the interplay between genotype and phenotype, this study will systematically assess the extent to which energy balance behaviors, alone or in combination, in conjunction with family-level influences can modify behavioral and genetic predispositions to childhood obesity in a high-risk sample of predominantly minority children from low-resource backgrounds. Identifying protective factors that may mitigate the impact of obesity risk on weight and adiposity outcomes is critical for moving the prevention of childhood obesity into a new direction.

Conditions

Obesity, Childhood

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

  BMI z-score

  Change from baseline to 1-year follow-up

• Waist circumference

  Abdominal waist circumference (cm)

  Change from baseline to 1-year follow-up

• Body fat

  Body fat percentage

  Change from baseline to 1-year follow-up

Study Arms (1)

Heightened Drive to Eat

EXPERIMENTAL

* Eating rate * Eating in the absence of hunger * Relative reinforcing value of food

Behavioral: Heightened Drive to Eat

Interventions

Heightened Drive to Eat BEHAVIORAL

Participants' eating rate and eating in the absence of hunger will be assessed during a videotaped experimental meal. The relative reinforcing value of food will be assessed using a computerized behavioral choice task.

Heightened Drive to Eat

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 7 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy children
• Children ages 5-7 years
• Children with BMI equal to or greater 5th percentile
• Mother must be children's biological mother and primary caregiver
• Mother must be able to read and understand English

You may not qualify if:

• Children with serious medical conditions or medication use known to affect food intake, body weight, physical activity, or sleep
• Children with developmental and/or psychiatric conditions that may impact study compliance
• Children with food allergies related to study foods or lactose intolerance
• Children with low preference for study foods

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pennsylvania: lead

Study Sites (1)

Penn Medicine Center for Weight and Eating Disorders

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pediatric Obesity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obesity; Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Zenas Okero

CONTACT

(215) 746-2061; zokero@nursing.upenn.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2023
• First Posted: March 24, 2023
• Study Start: July 26, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2027
• Last Updated: October 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)