Development of an Eating Behavior Risk Score

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity, Childhood

In brief

This study will explore how children's eating behaviors are connected to brain activity and body fat levels. Researchers are especially interested in a behavior pattern called the PACE phenotype, which includes how much children eat when offered large portions, how quickly they eat, their appetite traits, and their ability to control eating. The goal is to better understand why some children are more likely to gain weight than others. The study will include children between the ages of 7 and 9 and will follow them for one year. Researchers will use brain scans, lab-based meal observations, and questionnaires to study how children respond to food and how their eating patterns relate to body fat at the start of the study and one year later. The study will also look at how family background, parenting, and other factors might protect some children from gaining excess weight even if they show risky eating behaviors. Results may help identify which children are most at risk for obesity and guide future strategies for prevention.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07266506
Run by: Penn State University
People needed: 420
Starts: 2026-07-01
Expected to finish: 2032-06-30
Last updated by the study team: 2025-12-05

Who can join

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

You may qualify if…

Children :
Children must be of good health (with the exception of obesity being allowed) based on parental self-report.
Children should have no learning disabilities or developmental delays (e.g., ADHD, Autism, dyslexia)
Children should speak English fluently.
Children should not be on any medications known to influence body weight, taste, food intake, behavior, or blood flow, not be claustrophobic.
Children should between the ages of 7-9 years-old at enrollment.
Children must have a BMI-for-age % < 85 or ≥ 95 to be enrolled.
The biological mother must have a BMI between 18.5 - 25.0 kg/m2 or a BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2. The parent primarily in charge of feeding must be able to accompany children to the visits.
Parents :
The biological mother must have a BMI between 18.5 - 25.0 kg/m2 or a BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2. The parent primarily in charge of feeding must be able to accompany children to the visits.
The parent who has the most knowledge of the child's eating behavior, media access, sleep and behavior must be available to attend the visits with their child. This would be decided among the parents.

You may not qualify if…

Children :
They are not within the age requirements (< 7 years-old or > 9 years-old) at baseline.
They are taking cold or allergy medication, or other medications known to influence cognitive function, taste, appetite, or blood flow.
They are red/green colorblind.
They do not speak English fluently.
They report being claustrophobic, or if they have any of the following: a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, language delays, autism, dyslexia, 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.
They have tattoos, permanent makeup, dental ware, pacemakers, or metal implants that would preclude safe completion of the MRI.
They have received an X-ray in the previous month.
Their BMI-for-age percentile is between 85-95th
Parents :
The biological mother has a body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2 or between 25-29.9 kg/m2.
The primary parent in charge of making feeding decisions is unable to attend the study visits.
The family reports plans to move away from the area in the next year.

Where it is running

Metabolic Kitchen and Children's Eating Behavior Lab — State College, Pennsylvania, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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