Brain Games for Obesity

Overseen By Madelyn Munoz, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Disqualifiers: Bariatric surgery, Eating disorder, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 9 weeks

630 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this research is to test if playing games designed to improve an individual's executive function can change their views about the types of foods they eat. Executive function is a set of mental processes that people use every day to make decisions - such as what kinds of foods they choose to eat and when and where they eat those foods.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It might be best to discuss this with the trial coordinators.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Train Your Brain - Executive Function for obesity?

Research suggests that improving executive function (mental skills like working memory and self-control) can help with weight loss in people with obesity. Better working memory and self-control have been linked to greater weight loss success, indicating that training these skills might improve obesity treatment outcomes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the 'Brain Games for Obesity' treatment safe for humans?

The research articles provided do not contain specific safety data for the 'Brain Games for Obesity' treatment or its related interventions. They focus on the relationship between executive function and obesity, but do not address safety concerns. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

How does the 'Brain Games for Obesity' treatment differ from other treatments for obesity?

The 'Brain Games for Obesity' treatment is unique because it focuses on improving executive functions (mental skills like planning and impulse control) through targeted brain training games, rather than traditional methods like diet or exercise alone. This approach aims to enhance cognitive abilities, which can help with better food choices and overall quality of life, making it different from standard obesity treatments. ^{5 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Shanon Casperson, PhD

Principal Investigator

USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for US citizens who are not pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or lactating. Participants should have a BMI between 23-38 kg/m2 and must not be currently dieting or have had significant weight changes in the past 3 months. They shouldn't use tobacco/e-cigarettes or have any major health issues that would affect their participation.

Inclusion Criteria

No tobacco or e-cigarette use

BMI 23-38 kg/m2

US citizenship

Exclusion Criteria

Not a US citizen

Currently dieting to lose weight

Tobacco or e-cigarette use

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants complete four online games at least biweekly to improve executive function and influence food choices

9 weeks

Biweekly online sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in attitudes and food choices after the training period

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Train Your Brain - Executive Function

Trial Overview The study tests if playing online games designed to boost decision-making skills can influence food preferences. One group plays games with flower and songbird images, while another plays games featuring various food images.

Participant Groups

Group I: EFfect-food choices Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will complete four online games at least biweekly during the study.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will complete four online games at least biweekly during the study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

60

Recruited

5,300+

Findings from Research

Individuals with obesity showed poorer executive function and delay discounting compared to healthy weight controls, indicating that cognitive control may be linked to weight management.

In a multidisciplinary weight loss program, better working memory and self-reported inhibition were associated with greater weight loss, suggesting that enhancing executive function could improve obesity treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-regulation and obesity: the role of executive function and delay discounting in the prediction of weight loss. Dassen, FCM., Houben, K., Allom, V., et al.[2019]

In a study of 320 adults undergoing a 6-month lifestyle modification program, higher baseline executive functioning was linked to greater weight loss and increased physical activity, suggesting that cognitive skills play a role in successful behavior change.

Participants without rule violations in executive functioning tasks lost an average of 11.0% of their weight, compared to 8.7% for those with violations, indicating that better executive functioning may facilitate healthier lifestyle choices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive Functioning as a Predictor of Weight Loss and Physical Activity Outcomes. Butryn, ML., Martinelli, MK., Remmert, JE., et al.[2020]

Children with obesity showed significantly reduced error-related negativity, indicating a diminished ability to monitor their mistakes compared to controls, which may affect their self-regulation skills.

The study suggests that impaired response monitoring in children with obesity could contribute to challenges in managing behaviors related to health and weight, highlighting the importance of cognitive control in self-regulation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Response monitoring and cognitive control in childhood obesity. Skoranski, AM., Most, SB., Lutz-Stehl, M., et al.[2013]

A meta-analysis of 72 studies involving 4904 overweight and obese participants found that obesity is associated with significant impairments in various executive functions, including inhibition, cognitive flexibility, working memory, decision-making, verbal fluency, and planning.

Overweight individuals showed specific deficits primarily in inhibition and working memory, suggesting that the severity of obesity may correlate with the extent of executive function impairments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive function performance in obesity and overweight individuals: A meta-analysis and review. Yang, Y., Shields, GS., Guo, C., et al.[2022]

Obese individuals without eating disorders show significantly lower decision-making abilities, as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), compared to healthy controls, indicating a potential barrier to effective weight loss.

While initial decision-making performance on the IGT was similar between obese and normal-weight individuals, the impairments became more pronounced in the later trials, suggesting that risky decision-making is particularly affected in obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Decision-making in obesity without eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of Iowa gambling task performances. Rotge, JY., Poitou, C., Fossati, P., et al.[2018]

A pilot study involving 50 participants (24 in the intervention group and 26 in the control group) found that a CBT-based weight management program improved executive functioning, as evidenced by better performance on cognitive tasks like the Flanker and Stroop tests over 4 months.

Participants in the intervention group also experienced significant weight loss (-7.1 pounds) compared to the control group (+1.0 pounds), suggesting that the CBT-based approach not only supports cognitive improvements but also effective weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive Function-Related Improvements on a Commercial CBT-Based Weight Management Intervention: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Michaelides, A., Mitchell, ES., Behr, H., et al.[2022]

Children with obesity initially showed poorer performance on inhibitory control tasks compared to their normal-weight peers, taking longer to react and complete tasks that required more cognitive effort.

After engaging in exergaming, children with obesity demonstrated significant improvements in their inhibitory control, completing tasks faster and making fewer errors, suggesting that exergaming can enhance cognitive function in this group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of Inhibitory Control After Acute Bouts of Exergaming Between Children with Obesity and Their Normal-Weight Peers. Hwang, J., Hillman, CH., Lee, IM., et al.[2022]

The study involves 176 obese participants who will be randomly assigned to either a behavioral weight loss (BWL) program or a combined Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Obesity (CRT-O) plus BWL, aiming to assess the effectiveness of these interventions on weight loss and executive function.

By measuring inflammatory markers and cognitive outcomes, the study seeks to determine if the CRT-O + BWL approach leads to greater long-term weight loss and improved cognitive function compared to BWL alone, potentially addressing the cognitive deficits associated with obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive remediation therapy plus behavioural weight loss compared to behavioural weight loss alone for obesity: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Smith, E., Whittingham, C.[2018]

This study will assess whether targeted executive function training can improve food choices and cognitive abilities in 30 children with obesity over a 12-month period, using a randomized controlled trial design.

The intervention includes gamified training on iPads, dietary counseling, and activity tracking, with outcomes measured through cognitive tests, emotional assessments, and neuroimaging to evaluate changes in brain connectivity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive Function Training in Childhood Obesity: Food Choice, Quality of Life, and Brain Connectivity (TOuCH): A Randomized Control Trial Protocol. Sanchez-Castañeda, C., Luis-Ruiz, S., Ramon-Krauel, M., et al.[2021]

A randomized controlled trial involving 171 overweight children aged 7-11 years showed that aerobic exercise significantly improves executive function, with greater benefits observed in children participating in higher intensity exercise programs.

Both exercise groups (high dose and low dose) demonstrated better executive function scores compared to a control group, indicating that regular aerobic activity can enhance cognitive abilities in children, although no significant differences were found in mathematics achievement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise enhances executive function and academic achievement in sedentary, overweight children aged 7-11 years. O'Malley, G.[2012]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-regulation and obesity: the role of executive function and delay discounting in the prediction of weight loss. [2019]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive Functioning as a Predictor of Weight Loss and Physical Activity Outcomes. [2020]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Response monitoring and cognitive control in childhood obesity. [2013]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive function performance in obesity and overweight individuals: A meta-analysis and review. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Decision-making in obesity without eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of Iowa gambling task performances. [2018]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive Function-Related Improvements on a Commercial CBT-Based Weight Management Intervention: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of Inhibitory Control After Acute Bouts of Exergaming Between Children with Obesity and Their Normal-Weight Peers. [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive remediation therapy plus behavioural weight loss compared to behavioural weight loss alone for obesity: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. [2018]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive Function Training in Childhood Obesity: Food Choice, Quality of Life, and Brain Connectivity (TOuCH): A Randomized Control Trial Protocol. [2021]

10. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise enhances executive function and academic achievement in sedentary, overweight children aged 7-11 years. [2012]