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NCT Number: NCT07229508

Developmental Trajectories of Reinforcer Pathology and Childhood Obesity

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.

Recruiting

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Key information

Conditions

Pediatric Obesity Body Weight Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

8 year–11 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

State University of New York at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York, 14214, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Katelyn Carr, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

7168296814

Leonard H Epstein, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mary J Hite, BA

CONTACT

[email protected]

7168292261

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. zBMI

    Time frame: 0, 12, 24 and 36 months

    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.

  2. body fat

    Time frame: 0, 12, 24 and 36 months

    Body fat (% of body weight) will be measured using the Tanita BF-400 Total Body Analyzer.

  3. percent change over the overweight BMI

    Time frame: 0, 12, 24 and 36 months

    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.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Katelyn Carr, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

7168296814

Mary J Hite, BA

CONTACT

[email protected]

7168292261

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

State University of New York at Buffalo

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Registry information

Official study title

Trajectories of Reinforcement, Activity, and Consumption in Kids

Acronym: TRACK

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2030
Study completion
2030
First posted
Nov 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Nov 17, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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