Eating Behavior in Adolescents
SUMMARY: This study will explore the eating habits of healthy adolescents 13-17 years of age and investigate if eating behavior is linked to DNA or genes.
DAY 1: SCREENING VISIT
Participants come to the NIH Clinical Center at 8:00 AM and are screened with the following:
- Medical history and brief physical examination, including height, weight, and body fat measurements. Body fat is measured using a device called a Bod Pod. The adolescent sits inside the device for about 5 minutes and the machine determines body fat by measuring air movement around them. The person must wear a tight-fitting swimsuit for this test.
- Urine test to look for sugar or protein and to test for pregnancy in girls.
- Blood tests for routine chemistries and for gene studies related to eating behaviors.
- Saliva samples to measure level of stress.
- Questionnaires and interviews about the adolescent's general health and eating habits.
- Acclimatization to test meal conditions for the study. The adolescent is given a breakfast shake to drink.
DAY 2: MEAL VISIT
For the second visit, participants come to the NIH Clinical Center at 10:30 AM for a laboratory test meal. At this visit, the adolescent does the following:
- Eats a meal until he or she is full.
- Fills out rating scales about his or her hunger, fullness and mood.
- Watches a brief film-clip.
- Tastes and rates the flavors of a variety of snack foods.
- Saliva samples to measure level of stress.
DAY 3: ONE YEAR FOLLOW-UP VISIT
We ask participants to return to the NIH Clinical Center approximately one year after we first see them. At this visit, the adolescent does the following things:
- Brief physical examination, including height, weight, and body fat measurements.
- Urine test.
- Blood tests.
- Eats a meal until he or she is full.
- Fills out rating scales about his or her hunger, fullness and mood.
- Watches a brief film-clip.
- Tastes and rates the flavors of a variety of snack foods.
- Saliva samples to measure level of stress.
SPONSORING INSTITUTE: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
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