Protocol Number: 04-CH-0050

Title:

Eating Behavior in Children

Number:

04-CH-0050

Summary:

This study will explore the eating habits of children and determine if eating behavior is linked to genetics.

Children between 8 and 17 years of age may be eligible for this study. It will include children who have experienced loss of control over eating, children who report overeating without loss of control, and children who report experiencing neither of the above. Candidates will be screened with the following:

-Medical history and brief physical examination, including height, weight, and body fat measurements. Body fat is measured using a device called a Bod Pod. The child sits inside the device for about 5 minutes and the machine determines body fat by measuring air movement. The child must wear a tight-fitting swimsuit for this test.

-Urine test to look for sugar or protein in the urine and to test for pregnancy in females.

-Blood tests for routine chemistries and for gene studies related to eating behaviors.

-Questionnaires and interviews about the child's general health and eating habits.

-Acclimatization to test meal conditions for the study. The child is given a yogurt shake to drink and fills out rating scales before and after the drink.

Participants will come to the Clinical Center two times at 8:30 a.m. for laboratory meal testing. At each visit, the child will do the following:

-In the morning, eat a breakfast of apple juice and a buttered English muffin.

-Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., pursue activities at the Clinical Center recreation facility or the NIH classroom, but may not eat or drink anything that contains calories.

-At 2 p.m., fill out rating scales about his or her hunger level.

-At 2:30 p.m., eat from a food buffet that will be made available.

-After eating, repeat rating scales about hunger level.

The procedure for both visits will be the same, except at one visit the child will be instructed to eat as much as you would eat at a normal meal, and at the other visit, the instruction will be to let yourself go and eat as much as you want.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Good general health.

Age greater than 7 and less than 18 years.

Participants must have negative urine glucose and normal electrolytes, hepatic, and thyroid function or they will be referred for treatment.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Any major medical problem likely to affect caloric intake (e.g., significant cardiac or pulmonary disease likely to result in hypoxia or decreased perfusion).

History of an eating disorder, other than binge eating disorder, or a current psychiatric disorder. Identification of any such illness will lead to immediate referral to a mental health professional.

Recent weight change of greater than 5 lbs. within the previous three (3) months.

Pregnancy. If a potential participant is found to be pregnant, we will inform the child, as an 'emancipated minor,' and let her inform her parent(s).

Individuals who have, or whose parent or guardians have, current substance abuse or a diagnosed psychiatric disorder or other condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would impede competence or compliance or possibly hinder completion of the study.

Participants currently prescribed SSRI's neuroleptics, tricyclics, stimulants, or any medication likely to affect caloric intake. Recent use (with six months) of weight loss medications.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Binge Eating

Food Intake

Obesity

Melanocortin-4 Receptor Gene

Child

Macronutrient Composition

Recruitment Keyword(s):

None

Condition(s):

Eating Behaviors

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Intervention(s):

None

Supporting Site:

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Contact(s):

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):

Spitzer RL, et al. Binge eating disorder: its further validation in a multisite study. Int J Eat Disord. 1993 Mar;13(2):137-53.

Smith DE, et al. Prevalence of binge eating disorder, obesity, and depression in a biracial cohort of young adults. Ann Behav Med. 1998 Summer;20(3):227-32.

Striegel-Moore RH, et al. Recurrent binge eating in black American women. Arch Fam Med. 2000 Jan;9(1):83-7.

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department of Clinical Research Informatics, CC.

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