Understanding how executive functioning affects weight and eating behaviors in children with obesity
Official title: Executive Functioning, Weight Trajectories, and Loss of Control Eating in Children with Overweight/Obesity: A Prospective Study
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10823240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how kids and teens who are overweight or obese can improve their eating habits and weight by understanding how their thinking skills, like decision-making and self-control, affect their eating choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 2, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $392,008 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK120597-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10823240 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are overweight or obese and experience loss of control eating.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or obese, or those who do not experience loss of control eating, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between executive functioning and weight management in children and adolescents who are overweight or obese. It focuses on how difficulties in decision-making, memory, and self-control can lead to loss of control eating, a condition affecting many young people in this demographic. By following participants over time, the study aims to uncover the patterns and influences of these cognitive challenges on weight change and eating behaviors. The findings could help develop targeted interventions to improve both cognitive skills and eating habits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective strategies for managing weight and eating behaviors in children and adolescents with obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that addressing cognitive deficits can improve weight management outcomes, suggesting that this approach may be promising.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldschmidt, Andrea Beth — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Goldschmidt, Andrea Beth
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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.