Neural factors that shape teen weight gain and how environments influence them
Official title: Neural Vulnerabilities for Obesity: A Contextualized, Longitudinal Study in Adolescence
Funded at University of Nebraska Lincoln · NIH-11335608 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study following teens to understand how brain control, rewards, and environments combine to affect future weight gain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Lincoln NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lincoln, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2018 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $737,637 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK116693-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335608 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
14-year-old to 20-year-old adolescents who are at risk for obesity or are in early stages of weight gain.
✕Less likely to help
Teens with no obesity risk factors or those not willing to participate in longitudinal brain-imaging or regular assessments may derive little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This study tracks adolescents over time to see how brain-based self-control, reward responses, and surrounding environments relate to weight changes. Researchers will examine how non-food and food-related self-regulation interact with reward sensitivity and the foods teens encounter in daily life. The project uses neuroimaging and behavioral measures to link neural vulnerabilities with eating patterns and weight trajectories. Results could point to new ways to prevent obesity by addressing brain-based and environmental factors during adolescence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide personalized strategies to prevent obesity in teens by targeting brain and environmental influences.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked neural regulation and obesity risk; this renewal aims to deepen understanding in a contextual, longitudinal framework.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Lincoln, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Timothy David — University of Nebraska Lincoln
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Timothy David
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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.