CompletedNot Applicable

Influence of Parents and Friends on Children and Adolescents

United States40 participantsStarted 2009-01

Plain-language summary

The objective of this study is to directly compare the effects of parents and friends on overweight and non-overweight children and adolescents' food intake and food selection using a cross-sectional design. Overweight and non-overweight children (5-6 year-old) and adolescents (13-14 year-old) will share a meal with a friend and with a parent on separate occasions. Participants' food selection and the amount of food they consumed will be compared across conditions. Hypothesis 1: The investigators hypothesize that overweight children and adolescents will select more unhealthy food items and eat more in the presence of an overweight friend than when eating with a lean friend; whereas lean participants eating with an overweight friend will eat a similar amount of food than lean youth eating with a lean friend. Hypothesis 2: The investigators predict that overweight children and adolescents (but not lean children and teens) will consume more food in the presence of their mother than in the presence of a friend. Hypothesis 3: The investigators also predict that overweight youth's energy intake will be related to parental prompts. Hypothesis 4: The investigators expect greater similarities in terms of food selection and food intake between adolescents and their friend than between adolescents and their parent.

Who can participate

Age range

5 Years – 14 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Boys and girls ages 5-6 yrs and 12-14 yrs and their mothers * Children must have a BMI greater than or equal to 15th percentile for their age * Children and their mothers must have at least a moderate liking of the study foods used Exclusion Criteria: * Participants should not have any food allergies * Participants should have no dietary restraints * Participants should have no psychopathology that can limit food choice and alter eating * Participants should have no developmental disabilities that can limit food choice and alter eating * Participants cannot have a cold or upper respiratory distress that could influence taste, appetite or olfactory sensory responsiveness * Participants cannot be on any medications that could influence taste, appetite or olfactory sensory responsiveness

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

amount of food consumed

Timeframe: Measured once with a friend and once with a mother, both occurring within a week of each other.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00875576

SponsorUniversity at Buffalo

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2010-06

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