Resilience to the Effects of Advertising in Children

Description

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.

Conditions

Obesity, Childhood

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

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.

Characterizing Resilience to Food-cue Induced Overeating in Children

Resilience to the Effects of Advertising in Children

Condition
Obesity, Childhood
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

University Park

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States, 16802

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

  • 1. In order to be enrolled, children must be of good health based on parental self-report.
  • 2. Have no learning disabilities (e.g., ADHD).
  • 3. Have no allergies to the foods or ingredients used in the study.
  • 4. Not be claustrophobic.
  • 5. Not be taking any medications known to influence body weight, taste, food intake, behavior, or blood flow.
  • 6. Be 7-9 years-old at enrollment.
  • 7. The child must speak English.
  • 1. They are not within the age requirements (\< than 7 years old or \> than 9 years-old at baseline).
  • 2. If they are taking cold or allergy medication, or other medications known to influence cognitive function, taste, appetite, or blood flow.
  • 3. If they don't speak English.
  • 4. If they are colorblind
  • 5. If they report being claustrophobic.
  • 6. if they have a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, language delays, autism or other neurological or psychological conditions.
  • 7. 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.
  • 8. if they are allergic to foods or ingredients used in the study.
  • 9. if they have tattoos, permanent makeup, dental ware, pacemakers, or metal implants that would preclude safe completion of the MRI.
  • 10. 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.

Ages Eligible for Study

7 Years to 9 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Penn State University,

Kathleen L Keller, Ph.D., PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Penn State University

Study Record Dates

2026-07