Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Food Preferences and Craniopharyngiomas

France346 participantsStarted 2026-02

Plain-language summary

The hypothalamus plays a key role in regulating appetite, satiety, and energy balance. When tumors such as craniopharyngiomas develop in this region, they can disrupt these mechanisms and lead to a form of severe weight gain known as hypothalamic obesity. Several factors play a role in the development of hypothalamic obesity that is often resistant to traditional treatments. Changes in food preferences notably a higher liking for food rich in fat and sugar may be implicated as has been reported in common obesity. The working hypothesis of the study is that hypothalamic lesions may alter food preferences, leading to an increased preference for high-fat and high-sugar foods, and that these changes in dietary choices contribute among other factors to the development of hypothalamic obesity. By providing the first evaluation of food preferences in adults treated surgically for craniopharyngiomas, this study will shed light on the role of hypothalamic lesions in modifying dietary choices. The results may help explain why some patients experience rapid and resistant weight gain, and could guide future strategies to better manage hypothalamic obesity.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

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Inclusion Criteria: * Common inclusion criteria: complete medical record accessible, capacity to understand and complete self-administered questionnaires, agreement to complete the questionnaires at the time of inclusion, adult subject, not in an emergency situation, provision of non-opposition (opt-out consent documented), affiliation to a social security scheme. Inclusion (Phase 1): Adults residing in France, aged 18 - 74 years from the general population. Inclusion (Phase 2): Adults aged 18 - 74 years; Group 1: patients with craniopharyngioma surgery ≥ 3 months prior to inclusion. Group 2: patients with pituitary macroadenoma surgery with documented ≥ 2 anterior pituitary deficits. Group 3: Follow-up for an endocrine condition without hypothalamo-hypophyseal involvement, acceptable conditions (thyroid nodule without dysthyroidism, PCOS, peripheral hirsutism, calcium metabolism disorders), no known treatments or prior medical history likely to influence eating behaviour. Exclusion Criteria: * Common exclusion criteria: bariatric surgery, GLP-1 agonist treatment, chronic disease affecting alimentation, pregnancy or breastfeeding, specific diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan...), refusal or opposition to data use, vulnerability status (under guardianship or legal protection) or inability to complete questionnaires or to understand the proposed research or to express a clear opinion regarding non-opposition. Additional exclusion criteria: phase 1: Type 1 or type 2 …

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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?

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Questions for the trial coordinator

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1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
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6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

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What they're measuring

Psychometric validation of the French food preference questionnaire (FPQ): phase 1

Timeframe: at baseline

Evaluation of scores measuring FPQ: phase 2

Timeframe: at baseline

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07301554

SponsorAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2028-02

Contact for this trial

Mirella Hage, MD, PhD

+ 33 01 49 09 54 95 mirella.hage@aphp.fr

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Craniopharyngioma trials