Developmental Trajectories of Reinforcer Pathology and Childhood Obesity (TRACK)

Trajectories of Reinforcement, Activity, and Consumption in Kids

The goal of this observational study is to understand how children's food preferences, physical activity, and decision-making change over time and how these behaviors relate to body weight and overall health.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Pediatric Obesity

Detailed Description

A cohort sequential design will be used to track 2 cohorts of children aged 8.5-9 years 11 months, and 10.5-11 years 11 months over a 3 year period to understand how the development of food and activity reinforcement and delay discounting could lead to the development of childhood obesity in children aged 9-14.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 250

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Mary J Hite, BA; Phone Number: 7168292261; Email: maryjohi@buffalo.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Katelyn Carr, PhD; Phone Number: 7168296814; Email: kcarr@buffalo.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14214
      • Recruiting
      • State University of New York at Buffalo
      • Contact: Mary J Hite, BA; Phone Number: 7168292261; Email: maryjohi@buffalo.edu
      • Contact: Katelyn Carr, PhD; Phone Number: 7168296814; Email: kcarr@buffalo.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Leonard H Epstein, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Male and female children of varying racial/ethnic backgrounds, SES backgrounds, and varying body compositions

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female children
• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) or Hispanic families
• Children from low SES families (as defined by household education, eligibility for government assistance)
• Children in overweight/obese category (defined by range in each cohort)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical causes for obesity
• Stature below the 5th percentile
• Physical activity restrictions
• Psychopathology
• Medication use that affects activity or appetite
• Children that spend less than 65% of their time in participating parent's household
• BMI percentile criteria
• Liking of study foods and activities
• Dietary restrictions and food allergies

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Aged 8.5-9; Children that are enrolled when they are 8.5- 9 years, 11 months of age
Aged 10.5-11; Children that are enrolled when they are 10.5-11 years, 11 months age

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
zBMI	Height and weight will be measured to determine zBMI using the CDC extended BMI-for-age growth charts. First, height (m) and weight (kg) will be used to calculate BMI (kg/m^2), then, using the CDC extended BMI-for-age growth charts, a zBMI score will be determined based on the charts.	0, 12, 24 and 36 months
body fat	Body fat (% of body weight) will be measured using the Tanita BF-400 Total Body Analyzer.	0, 12, 24 and 36 months
percent change over the overweight BMI	Height and weight will be measured to calculate changes in overweight status of children. Change in percent overweight from 0, 12, 24, 36 months. First, height and weight will be used to calculate BMI (kg/m^2), then CDC extended growth charts will be used to determine BMI percentile. Percent overweight is calculated as ((childBMI percentile - 85th BMI percentile)/(85th BMI percentile)) x 100. Percent over the age- and sex- specific 85th BMI percentile for children will be used.	0, 12, 24 and 36 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: State University of New York at Buffalo
• Collaborators: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Leonard H Epstein, PhD, SUNY-University at Buffalo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 6, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 24, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 17, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 17, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Delay Discounting; Reinforcer Pathology Theory; Reinforcing Value
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Obesity; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pediatric Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00008702; 1R01DK139258-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No