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Weight Stigma Effect on Neural Control of Appetite
NCT03934424 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
The limited data available suggest that exposure to weight-based stigmatization leads to overeating and increased desire for food. In the present study, overweight and obese individuals (BMI from 25-35 kg/m2) who are generally healthy will be randomized to read a weight-stigma article or control article and subsequently scanned to collect fMRI data. These procedures will be employed to accomplish two specific aims. Specific Aim 1: Determine the neural mechanisms involved in exposure to weight stigma on central control of appetite in overweight and obese individuals. To accomplish this aim we will collect fMRI data in study participants when viewing food and scenery pictures after being exposed to either a weight-stigma or control article. In addition, participants will complete validated questionnaires to measure perceived weight-stigma experiences and social support for eating and physical activity. Hypothesis: After reading an article depicting weight stigmatization, when shown pictures of food in the fMRI scanner, overweight/obese individuals that perceive themselves as having experienced higher levels of weight stigma and lower levels of social support, will have higher activations of brain regions that control appetite and food reward (amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, striatum, insula) and reduced activations in brain areas that regulate self-control and decision making (prefrontal cortex and cingulate cortex respectively) compared to a control group that reads a non-weight stigma article. Specific Aim 2: To assess the relationship between activity in appetitive and self-control brain regions and self-reported, eating-related behavior. To accomplish this aim, participants will also complete questionnaires that measure self-reported food intake motivation (dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger), appetitive responses, and mood. Hypothesis: Higher activations in appetite and reward regions and lower activations in self-control brain regions will be correlat
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- BEHAVIORAL Weight stigma
- BEHAVIORAL Ethnic stigma
Study Locations (1)
Missouri
- University of Missouri-Columbia — Columbia
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 40 participants |
| Start Date | 2019-04-10 |
| Est. Completion | 2019-07-25 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT03934424
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT03934424 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 40 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of Missouri-Columbia, which has 275 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Appetitive Behavior appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 2 interventions — of which Weight stigma is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT03934424 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Missouri. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT03934424 about?
NCT03934424 is a clinical study titled "Weight Stigma Effect on Neural Control of Appetite". The limited data available suggest that exposure to weight-based stigmatization leads to overeating and increased desire for food. In the present study, overweight and obese individuals (BMI from 25-35 kg/m2) who are generally healthy will be randomized to read a weight-stigma article or control art...
What is the current status of trial NCT03934424?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 40 participants. The study started on 2019-04-10. Estimated completion is 2019-07-25.
What conditions does trial NCT03934424 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Appetitive Behavior. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT03934424?
The interventions under investigation include: Weight stigma (BEHAVIORAL), Ethnic stigma (BEHAVIORAL). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT03934424?
This trial is sponsored by University of Missouri-Columbia, which has 275 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT03934424 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Missouri. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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