The Food Intake Phenotype: Assessing Eating Behavior and Food Preferences as Risk Factors for Obesity

The prevalence of obesity in the United States has reached alarming proportions with 33% of adults over the age of 20 being overweight. Obesity is more than twice as prevalent, however, in the Pima Indians of Arizona. Although there have been a number of advances in our understanding of the genetics of obesity, the environmental influences on the genetic expression of obesity requires further investigation.

In an effort to understand some of the influences on the high prevalence of obesity in the Pima Indians, the present study was designed to investigate eating behaviors and food preferences, most especially the preference for high fat foods, in sib-pairs of Pima Indians who have been previously genotyped in our genomic scan for loci linked to diabetes/obesity. Most specifically, we will utilize several questionnaires and methods of assessing eating behavior and the preference for high fat foods to create a food intake phenotype. In addition, we will study Caucasians so that comparisons can be made between these two groups. We will make these evaluations by assessing eating behavior, food preferences including usual fat intake and preferences for high fat foods, body image perceptions, and energy expenditure. It is hoped that the data gathered from this study will elucidate some of the risk factors for the development of obesity among the Pima Indians.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Detailed Description

The prevalence of obesity in the United States has reached alarming proportions with 33% of adults over the age of 20 being overweight. In some populations, obesity is even more prevalent. Although there have been a number of advances in our understanding of the genetics of obesity, the environmental influences on the genetic expression of obesity requires further investigation.

In an effort to understand some of the influences on the high prevalence of obesity, the present study was designed to investigate what drives how much people eat. More specifically, we will try to understand what drives food intake utilizing 1) questionnaires that assess eating behavior, 2) measurements in blood, urine or fat tissue, and 3) genotypic associations to investigate the various factors that control what and how much people eat. We will make these evaluations by assessing eating behavior, food preferences including usual fat intake and preferences for high fat foods, body image perceptions, and energy expenditure. It is hoped that the data gathered from this study will elucidate some of the risk factors for the development of obesity.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

1140

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

    • Arizona
      • Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85014
        • Recruiting
        • NIDDK, Phoenix
        • Contact:

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Residents of Phoenix metropolitan area

Description

  • Inclusion Criteria:

    1. Healthy, as determined by medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests.
    2. 18-65 years old
    3. Non-diabetic status

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Hypo- or hyper-thyroid
  2. Blood pressure greater than 160/95
  3. Cardiovascular disease
  4. Gallbladder disease
  5. Alcohol and/or current use of drugs (more than 2 drinks per day and regular use of drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, or heroin)
  6. Psychiatric conditions or behavior that would be incompatible with safe and successful participation in this study, including claustrophobia and eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa

8. Use of medications affecting metabolism and appetite

9. Pregnancy

10. Current use of nicotine products, including tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and nicotine replacement therapies

Subjects may be excluded or withdrawn from the study if they have any conditions not specifically mentioned above that may interfere with the collection of the food intake. This includes such issues as not following study and unit policies and procedures, diagnosis of contraindications following admission, and development of illness/infection unrelated to the study. For example, volunteers who do not comply with the vending machine protocol (i.e., share food, do not record what they eat, eat outside of room, etc) may be withdrawn from the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Ecologic or Community
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
non-diabetic volunteers
non-diabetic volunteers aged 18-65 who are healthy as determined by medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ad libitum food intake
Time Frame: Baseline, up to day 3
Ad libitum food intake measured in kcal/day averaged over 3 days
Baseline, up to day 3

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Susi M Votruba, Ph.D., National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 24, 1999

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 19, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 19, 2006

First Posted (Estimated)

June 21, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 17, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 16, 2024

Last Verified

February 28, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 999999019
  • OH99-DK-N019

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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