Project THINK: Trajectories of Health, Ingestive Behaviors, and Neurocognition in Kids

Description

Overweight/obesity and loss of control eating (characterized by the sense that one cannot control what or how much one is eating) are prevalent among children and adolescents, and both are associated with serious medical and psychosocial health complications. Although our recently published data suggest that youth with these conditions may have relative deficits in neurocognitive functioning, particularly working memory, understanding of how these processes and their neural correlates are related to change and stability in eating and weight-related outcomes over time is limited, thereby impeding development of targeted, optimally timed interventions. The present study aims to assess prospective associations between general and food-specific executive functioning and underlying neural substrates, and eating and weight outcomes among children at varying levels of risk overweight/obesity and eating disorders, which will help guide research efforts towards the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Conditions

Pediatric Obesity, Binge-Eating Disorder

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Overweight/obesity and loss of control eating (characterized by the sense that one cannot control what or how much one is eating) are prevalent among children and adolescents, and both are associated with serious medical and psychosocial health complications. Although our recently published data suggest that youth with these conditions may have relative deficits in neurocognitive functioning, particularly working memory, understanding of how these processes and their neural correlates are related to change and stability in eating and weight-related outcomes over time is limited, thereby impeding development of targeted, optimally timed interventions. The present study aims to assess prospective associations between general and food-specific executive functioning and underlying neural substrates, and eating and weight outcomes among children at varying levels of risk overweight/obesity and eating disorders, which will help guide research efforts towards the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Executive Functioning, Weight Trajectories, and Loss of Control Eating in Children With Overweight/Obesity: A Prospective Study

Project THINK: Trajectories of Health, Ingestive Behaviors, and Neurocognition in Kids

Condition
Pediatric Obesity
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Pittsburgh

University of PIttsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213

Providence

Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02903

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Not currently taking any medications known to affect weight or appetite
  • * Free of any current or past medical or psychiatric conditions known to significantly affect eating or weight (e.g., diabetes, bulimia nervosa), with the exception of binge eating disorder
  • * In the low average range or higher on measures of general intellectual functioning
  • * Free of any conditions affecting executive functioning (e.g., recent concussion, history of traumatic brain injury)
  • * Fluent in English, and able to read and comprehend study materials
  • * Not currently pregnant

Ages Eligible for Study

9 Years to 12 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Pittsburgh,

Andrea B. Goldschmidt, Ph.D., PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Pittsburgh

Study Record Dates

2025-12-09