The Effects of Mindsets on the Brain's Response to Food Cues

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Previous studies have shown that obese individuals exhibit greater reward-related brain activity in response to food cues than lean individuals and our group has shown that successful weight loss maintainers who were previously obese and now maintain a healthy weight have increased control-related activity when viewing food cues. These findings suggest key roles for both reward-related brain areas and inhibitory control regions in eating behavior. However, no studies to date have examined (a) whether the response to food cues (i.e., cue-reactivity) can be changed in obese individuals, (b) which strategies are most effective at altering brain response to food cues, or (c) the neural mechanisms that support such change. Given the omnipresent environmental cues to eat and the association between heightened reward-responsivity and obesity, it is critical to investigate ways to potentially alter food cue-reactivity in the obese. The most widely employed approach for behavioral weight loss treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which incorporates strategies to control and change cognitions (e.g., avoid desire to eat tempting foods by focusing on something else). This approach is sometimes described as change- focused because modifying negative thoughts is assumed to thereby change associated maladaptive emotions and behaviors. Alternatively, emerging evidence suggests Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which teaches participants to recognize and accept their cravings as feelings that need not be acted upon, may also be effective in treating obesity. A third strategy often employed in smoking cessation and substance abuse treatment is to focus on the long-term consequences of behaviors, however this form of treatment is not typically used in behavioral weight loss therapy. Thus although each approach is potentially effective, these treatment approaches differ greatly in the cognitive strategies they employ. The primary aim of the proposed research is to compare a cognitive strategy used in CBT ('CHANGE'), a cognitive strategy emphasized in ACT ('ACCEPT'), and a cognitive strategy used in smoking cessation ('LATER') relative to a control condition ('NOW'), in their effectiveness in altering reward and inhibitory control responses to food cues among obese individuals.

Official Title
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The Effects of Mindsets on the Brain's Response to Food Cues

Conditions
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Obesity

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: MRI compatibility 25-55 yrs old 25-40 BMI weight stable right handed Exclusion Criteria: MRI incompatibility left handed

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 25 Years
Maximum Age: 55 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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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| MINDSETS<br>overweight/obese | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal differences between 4 different mindset conditions in response to food cues | brain response to food cues measured via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) BOLD signal change will be assessed across all participants while using the 4 different mindsets potential differences in the BOLD response to food cues will be assessed between the 4 mindsets | 1 day (single time point) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| behavioral measures of physical activity and eating behavior assessed via questionnaires | behavioral measures of physical activity and eating behavior will be assessed via questionnaires in order to describe the sample | 1 day (single time point) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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fMRI, cognitive strategies, obesity, weight loss, mindsets