Junk food hijacks teen Brain's reward system, stanford study finds
NCT ID NCT06165952
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Stanford study looks at how ultra-processed foods (like sugary drinks and snacks) affect brain areas involved in reward, attention, and memory in 162 teenagers aged 13-15. Participants will have brain scans while tasting and viewing different foods, and will also eat from a buffet to measure intake. The goal is to understand why these foods are so compelling and whether individual differences in brain responses play a role.
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 study could reveal why ultra-processed foods are so appealing and hard to resist, pointing toward better dietary guidelines or interventions for healthy eating.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational brain-imaging study, not a treatment trial. It will not directly change health outcomes, and results may not apply to all age groups or diets.
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
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About 162 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Oct 2024
- Expected to finish
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Feb 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
Community sample
- Ages
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13 to 15 years
- Sex
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Anyone
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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.
Inclusion Criteria: * female and male adolescents 13-15 years of age * age- and sex- adjusted zBMI scores between the 25th and 75th percentile * participant and their guardian must be able to read and speak English to gather valid consent Exclusion Criteria: * current eating disorders or other major psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, substance use disorder) * fMRI contra-indicators (e.g., metal implants, braces, claustrophobia, pregnancy) * serious medical problems (e.g., Type 2 diabetes, cancer) * history of food allergies or restrictive dietary requirements (e.g., lactose intolerance, vegan) * use of psychoactive drugs more than once weekly * medications that impact appetite or reward functioning (e.g., metformin, anti-psychotic medication, insulin)
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Stanford University
RECRUITINGStanford, California, 94305, United States