A Translational Understanding of Obesity-Related Phenotypes Using Brain Imaging and Manipulation
Purpose
This study will examine a potential relationship between family history of obesity, that is whether people with at least one parent who had obesity in adulthood compared to people with two parents who did not have obesity in adulthood, and the ability of protein intake to curb further intake of food.
Condition
- Obesity
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Between 18 Years and 35 Years
- Eligible Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- BMI 20-40 - weight stable for at least 3 months - no parents with history of obesity in adulthood, or at least one parent with history of obesity in adulthood
Exclusion Criteria
- no current diagnosis of psychiatric disorders - no current diagnosis of neurological disorders - no current diagnosis or history of anorexia nervosa - no current diagnosis or history of bulimia nervosa - no pregnancy within the last 9 months - not currently breastfeeding - no use of investigational medication in the past 6 months - no use of prescription anti-seizure medications. - no use of prescription antidepressant medications - no use of prescription antipsychotic medications
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- N/A
- Intervention Model
- Single Group Assignment
- Intervention Model Description
- individuals consume two distinct preloads at separate sessions
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
- Masking Description
- Participants consume two preloads one at each visit, but are not informed which preload is being consumed on which test visit.
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Preloads |
Delivery of two different preloads to all participants, each preload tested on a separate day/participant, prior to consumption of pizza |
|
Recruiting Locations
Philadelphia 4560349, Pennsylvania 6254927 19104
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Drexel University
Detailed Description
1) Abstract of the study A positive energy balance (greater intake than expenditure) can explain weight gain and, when protracted, leads to overweight and obesity. The major question addressed in this proposal is if the timing of activation of specific regions of the brain is predictive of excessive food intake. Functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIR), seldom used in human eating studies, provides data similar to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) but allows for measurement of brain activation during food consumption. The investigator's pilot fNIR data reveal that varying patterns of regional PFC activation are associated with "loss of control" over eating, and that only 60% of individuals respond to acute protein intake with a reduction in food intake. Using fNIR and an acute protein challenge, the investigator will assess the effect of family history of obesity in humans on the satiation response to protein and concomitant activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It is hypothesized that activation of the human medial PFC before the lateral PFC will result in greater intake of palatable food in those subjects with a proneness to obesity, and that these subjects will be less sensitive to the satiety-inducing effects of a protein preload. These results should provide an innovative and useful method for assessing risk for developing obesity and usefulness of preventative interventions.