Modifiable Predictors of Neural Vulnerabilities for Obesity

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), The University of Texas at San Antonio, Stanford University, University of Utah, Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition

The purpose of this study is to examine how certain factors in childhood and adolescence relate to neural vulnerabilities for obesity in young adulthood. It is hypothesized that specific individual and environmental factors will significantly predict neural vulnerabilities for obesity.

Studies aimed at elucidating neural vulnerability factors for obesity - including high food reward sensitivity and poor food regulation - hold particular promise. However, relatively little is known about the modifiable factors that contribute to these neural vulnerabilities, thus precluding the development of potentially powerful interventions to promote healthy long-term weight trajectories. Further, the limited research in this area lacks critical developmental and environmental context. The current proposal addresses these gaps by examining the roles of selected modifiable cognitive (executive control), behavioral (diet, sleep), affective (negative affect), and environmental (obesogenic environment) factors throughout childhood and adolescence in predicting emerging neural vulnerabilities for obesity during the pivotal transition to young adulthood. The specific aims are to: 1) Determine the impact of executive control development across childhood and adolescence on food reward sensitivity and regulation in young adulthood; 2) Determine the impact of a set of behavioral and affective factors in adolescence (i.e., diet, sleep, negative affect) on food reward sensitivity and regulation in young adulthood; and 3) Explore the impact of the obesogenic environment encountered in adolescence on food reward sensitivity and regulation in young adulthood.

All participants complete the same fMRI protocol which includes delivery of appetizing taste stimuli and tasteless stimuli while in the scanner.

Participants are delivered sips of appetizing tastes (milkshake) and tasteless solution throughout the task while in the MRI scanner.

While in the MRI scanner, the participant is shown a cue indicating the impending delivery of either milkshake or tasteless solution, followed by a brief blank screen, then delivery of the sip, and then a swallow cue. This procedure is repeated throughout the task.

Inclusion Criteria: Age 19 years or older Previous participation in the Preschool Problem Solving Study OR lived in Lancaster County, NE for at least part of high school Exclusion Criteria: Contraindications for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): metal in body pregnancy braces non-removal piercings hair extensions As of 8/13/21, for individuals who were not in the Preschool Problem Solving Study but are invited to participate in the current study because they lived in Lancaster County for at least part of high school, the maximum age for eligibility is 20 years of age.