Brain scans reveal why some kids Don't overeat after watching food commercials

NCT ID NCT05073185

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Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

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Status unknown
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First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study looks at why some children are less affected by food advertising than others. Researchers will use brain scans and eating tests in 200 kids aged 7-9 to find traits that protect against overeating. The goal is to understand what makes certain children resilient to food-cue triggered overeating, which could help prevent childhood obesity.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If successful, this could reveal why some children are naturally resilient to food advertising, pointing toward new ways to prevent childhood obesity.
What could go wrong
This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It may only describe differences without leading to a practical intervention, and results may not apply to all children.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

209 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

May 2022

Finished

Jul 2026

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

Parents and children meeting the eligibility criteria living within 40 miles of University Park, Pa.

Ages

7 to 9 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Child Inclusion 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. Parent Inclusion Criteria: 1. 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. 2. The biological mother must have a body mass index either between 18.5 - 25 kg/m2 (low-risk group) or greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (high-risk group). One parent can report on both parents' BW and height. Exclusion Criteria: Children would be excluded if: 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. Parent Exclusion Criteria: 1. if the biological mother has a body mass index \< 18.5 kg/m2 2. if the mother is between 25-30 kg/m2. 3. if the parent is unable to attend the study visits 4. if the family reports plans to move away from the area in the next year.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Feeding Behavior Obesity obesity disorder Pediatric Obesity

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • The Pennsylvania State University

    University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States

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