MedDataX Logo

Interoception and Eating Behaviors in Children

NCT ID: NCT06504654

Last Updated: 2025-12-23

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-10-31

Study Completion Date

2026-06-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to examine how individual differences in interoception (the ability to sense, interpret, and act on bodily feelings like hunger, fullness, thirst, hot, cold, etc.) relate to eating behaviors in children ages 7-10 years. Findings will inform whether interventions targeting interoceptive awareness may be helpful for prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The overall goal of this project is to examine if interoception (the process by which internal bodily states, like hunger and fullness, are sensed, integrated, interpreted, and regulated) is associated with BMI and obesity-related eating behaviors in children age 7-10 years. The specific aims are:

Aim 1: Determine associations between interoception and non-homeostatic eating H1: Multi-systems measures of interoceptive awareness (e.g., heartbeat perception, gastric interoception, self-reported interoceptive awareness) will be inversely associated with intake (kcal) in the eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) task

Aim 2: Assess salivary ghrelin and leptin as interoceptive signals of hunger/satiety H1: Children with greater postprandial suppression of ghrelin will eat less in the EAH task H2: Children with greater postprandial suppression of ghrelin will have better interoceptive awareness H3: Children with higher leptin will exhibit less sensitivity to changes in ghrelin

Aim 3 (Exploratory): Identify interoceptive phenotypes that may predict obesity risk Using k-means cluster analysis, we aim to identify subgroups of individuals who exhibit different combinations of interoceptive variables. We will then examine differences in eating behavior and weight between clusters.

Participants will attend two study visits at the Clinical Research Center at Penn State University Park campus. At the first visit, children will have their height, weight, and body composition measured, complete measures of interoception, and complete surveys/interview. Parents will complete a survey. At the second visit, children will eat a meal, taste snacks, provide saliva samples, and play cognitive games on a tablet.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Obesity, Childhood Eating Behavior

Keywords

Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.

interoception eating behavior ghrelin

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Child must be 7-10 years of age
* Participating parent must be at least 18 years of age, but there is no upper age limit
* Able to understand and answer questions in English

Exclusion Criteria

* BMI for age \<5th percentile
* Monogenic obesity condition (e.g., Prader Willi syndrome)
* Autism/autism spectrum disorder
* Developmental delay
* Eating disorder
* Diabetes
* Heart condition
* Taking medications impacting appetite (e.g., stimulants, weight control medications)
* Any other condition significantly impacting growth, eating behavior, or cardiac function
* Allergy or dietary restriction to study foods
* Severe/untreated oral/dental health problems
* Orthodontic procedure or adjustment of braces within the past omonth
* Oral surgery or major oral/dental procedure within past month
* Had an x-ray within the past month
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Penn State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Emily Hohman

Associate Research Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Pennsylvania State University

University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Emily Hohman, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 8148655245

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Emily Hohman, PhD

Role: primary

Lindsey Hess

Role: backup

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

STUDY00024712

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id