Understanding how preschoolers control their appetite
Official title: Characterizing top-down dimensions of appetite self-regulation among preschoolers
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-10844397 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young kids think about their eating habits to help them make healthier food choices, and it’s for preschoolers who want to learn how to eat in a balanced way.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $236,058 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD109362-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10844397 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are preschool-aged children, particularly those between the ages of 3 to 5 years.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside the preschool age range or those with significant cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how preschool-aged children use cognitive processes to regulate their eating behaviors and make healthy food choices. By focusing on the 'top-down' mechanisms of appetite self-regulation, the study aims to identify the cognitive developmental factors that influence children's ability to eat in moderation. The research will involve developing new measures to assess these cognitive processes and will include participation from 150 preschoolers to gather comprehensive data. The findings could provide insights into effective strategies for promoting healthy eating habits in early childhood.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing obesity in preschoolers by fostering healthier eating habits.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding cognitive influences on eating behaviors in children, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher, Jennifer Orlet — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Fisher, Jennifer Orlet
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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.