How brain signals related to fullness affect obesity risk in adolescents
Official title: Relation of individual differences in fMRI-Assessed Satiation Signaling to Obesity Risk and Future Weight Gain
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11089502 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how differences in brain signals that tell us when we're full might affect the chances of gaining weight in teenagers, especially those with a family history of obesity, by using brain scans and tracking their eating habits over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $580,973 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133407-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089502 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are healthy-weight adolescents aged 13-16, especially those with a family history of obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already classified as obese or have significant metabolic disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individual differences in brain signaling related to feeling full can influence the risk of obesity and future weight gain in adolescents. By using advanced brain imaging techniques (fMRI), the study aims to understand the relationship between satiation signaling and eating behaviors in healthy-weight adolescents, particularly those at higher risk due to family history of obesity. Participants will undergo a series of assessments, including brain scans and measurements of body fat and food intake, to explore how these factors interact over time. The goal is to determine whether weaker signals of fullness lead to overeating and weight gain or if they are a result of overeating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing obesity by targeting brain signaling related to fullness.
How similar studies have gone: While research has shown correlations between satiation signaling and obesity, this study aims to explore these relationships in a novel way, making it a potentially groundbreaking approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burger, Kyle S. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Burger, Kyle S.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.