Snacking Effects on the Brain Response to Foods and Satiety During Dieting

University of Colorado, Denver70 enrolled

Overview

This study plans to learn more about how different types of snacks may affect brain processes relating to eating behaviors during a diet intervention.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Overweight/Obesity

Interventions

Snack Type 1: WalnutsOTHER

Participants will complete a 12 week diet intervention, during which they will be asked to reduce their daily caloric intake. During the diet intervention, participants in the Snack Type 1 group will be asked to eat a daily snack of walnuts, which will be provided by the study team.

Snack Type 2: PretzelsOTHER

Participants will complete a 12 week diet intervention, during which they will be asked to reduce their daily caloric intake. During the diet intervention, participants in the Snack Type 2 group will be asked to eat a daily snack of pretzels, which will be provided by the study team.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 25 YearsMax age: 45 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 25-45 years old * BMI at least 27 kg/m2 * Comfortable completing a weight-loss intervention\\ * Willing to consume a daily snack of either walnuts or pretzels Exclusion Criteria: * Nut or wheat allergy * History of bariatric surgery * Current eating disorder * Current illicit substance use * Current pregnancy, lactation (or less than 3 months after stopping lactation), or less than 6 months postpartum * Uncontrolled hypertension (\>160/100 mmHg) * Significant endocrine/metabolic disease kidney disease, liver disease, or blood disease that would be anticipated to affect study results * Taking injectable medications, sulfonylureas, or meglitinides for diabetes treatment * Taking weight-loss medications, or steroids within \~3 months prior to study participation (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists) * Significant mental health changes within \~3 months prior to study participation (e.g., medication adjustments, new psychiatric diagnoses, hospitalization relating to mental health concerns) * Neurological illnesses or injury that would be anticipated to affect MRI data * Weight change greater than 10% within 3 months prior to study participation * Currently participating in another weight-loss study * Not comfortable eating the study-provided meals (with allowances for dietary preferences) and/or following a highly restrictive diet (e.g., vegan) * MRI-specific exclusion criteria (e.g., metal in the body, weight \>500 lbs

Locations (1)

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Aurora, Colorado, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

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, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex.