Neuronal and Behavioral Effects of an Implicit Priming Approach to Improve Eating Behaviors in Obesity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine how different behavioral interventions designed to alter food perceptions and behaviors affect brain responses to food, eating behaviors, and body weight.

Official Title
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Neuronal and Behavioral Effects of an Implicit Priming Approach to Improve Eating Behaviors in Obesity

Conditions
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Overweight and Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Active Implicit Priming
* Behavioral: Control Implicit Priming
* Behavioral: Food Exposure Task


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18-65 years old BMI of 27 or greater Exclusion Criteria: MRI contraindications (e.g., metal or electronic devices in the body) Pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Active Implicit Priming<br>Participants will complete active implicit priming, in which food images are implicitly primed (i.e., below conscious awareness) with images of positive or negative affect. This will be completed on a weekly basis for 12 weeks, for approximately 10 minutes each time. | Behavioral: Active Implicit Priming<br>* Approximately 10-minute behavioral intervention<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Control Implicit Priming<br>Participants will complete control implicit priming, which matches the active intervention, but with neutral stimuli as primes. This will be completed on a weekly basis for 12 weeks, for approximately 10 minutes each time. | Behavioral: Control Implicit Priming<br>* Approximately 10-minute behavioral intervention<br>|
| Active Comparator: Food Exposure Task<br>Participants will complete a Food Exposure Task, in which they will be asked to smell, feel, lick, and imagine eating food items, but without actually eating them. This will be completed on a weekly basis for 12 weeks, for approximately 10-30 minutes each time. | Behavioral: Food Exposure Task<br>* Approximately 10-30 minute behavioral intervention<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Percent Change in Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) Response to Visual Food Cues as Measured by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Percent change in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response from baseline to after the 12-week intervention while viewing visual food cues will be measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), focusing on insula, striatum, and prefrontal cortex. | Baseline, 12 weeks | 
| Change in Food Image Ratings | Food image ratings change from baseline to after the 12-week intervention. Food images are rated on desire to eat by visual analogue scale (0-100), with higher scores indicating greater desire to eat. | Baseline, 12 weeks | 
| Change in Food Intake | Food intake change from baseline to after the 12-week intervention. Food intake will be measured as total calories consumed during an ad libitum meal. | Baseline, 12 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Percent Change in Body Weight | Percent change in body weight (kg) from baseline to after the 12-week intervention. | Baseline, 12 weeks | 
| Change in Fat Mass | Change in fat mass, as measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, from baseline to after the 12-week intervention. | Baseline, 12 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Eating, Overweight, Obesity, Food, Weight Loss, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neuroimaging, Brain, Body Weight