Resilience to the Effects of Advertising in Children

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Obesity, Childhood

In brief

Strong empirical evidence shows food marketing promotes excess energy intake and obesity. Yet, not all children are susceptible to its effects and this variability is poorly understood. Identifying sources of this variability is a public health priority not only because it may elucidate characteristics of children who are most susceptible, but also because it may highlight novel sources of resiliency to overconsumption. The proposed research will use state-of-the art, data-driven approaches to identify neural, cognitive and behavioral phenotypes associated with resiliency to food-cue (i.e. food advertisement) induced overeating and determine whether these phenotypes protect children from weight gain during the critical pre-adolescent period.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05073185

Run by

Penn State University

People needed

200

Starts

2022-05-01

Expected to finish

2026-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-20

Who can join

Age: 7 and older, up to 9. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• Children would be excluded if:
• They are not within the age requirements (< than 7 years old or > than 9 years-old at baseline).
• If they are taking cold or allergy medication, or other medications known to influence cognitive function, taste, appetite, or blood flow.
• If they don't speak English.
• If they are colorblind
• If they report being claustrophobic.
• if they have a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, language delays, autism or other neurological or psychological conditions.
• if they have a pre-existing medical condition such as type I or type II diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Cushing's syndrome, Down's syndrome, food allergies, severe lactose intolerance, Prader-Willi syndrome, HIV, cancer, renal failure, or cerebral palsy.
• if they are allergic to foods or ingredients used in the study.
• if they have tattoos, permanent makeup, dental ware, pacemakers, or metal implants that would preclude safe completion of the MRI.
• if the child has had an X-ray in the month prior to Visits 1 and 6. If so, they will be scheduled at a later date.
• Parent Exclusion Criteria:
• if the biological mother has a body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2
• if the mother is between 25-30 kg/m2.
• if the parent is unable to attend the study visits
• if the family reports plans to move away from the area in the next year.

Where it is running

• The Pennsylvania State University — University Park, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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