Executive functioning in normal-weight, overweight and obese children in relation to food and non food-related stimuli. Randomized controlled pilot study to evaluate the influence of a food-specific inhibition task on (high-calorie) food intake

Obese children display a variety of health problems including cardiovascular
problems, psychosocial problems and disturbance in executive functioning
(Liang, Matheson, Kaye, & Boutelle, 2013; Reilly, et al., 2003; Smith, Hay,
Campbell, & Trollor, 2011). Results of (lifestyle)interventions in overweight
and obese children vary; have high drop-outs and great risk for recidivism (de
Niet, et al., 2011; Nederkoorn, Braet, Van Eijs, Tanghe, & Jansen, 2006; Smith,
et al., 2011). Recent studies indicate that overweight and obese children show
disturbances in different aspects of executive functioning. Executive Function
Training (EFT) has been found to alter responses toward food related stimuli,
lead to a decline in food consumption and can eventually lead to a reduction in
weight (Houben & Jansen, 2011; Verbeken, Braet, Goossens, & van der Oord,
2013). Therefore, EFT could be a new tool to support changes in a healthy
lifestyle.

References and further information can be found in the protocol.

First objective: this study will compare executive functioning of normal-weight
participants (controls) to overweight/obese participants, in relation to food
related stimuli and non food-related stimuli.

Second objective: this study will examine if EFT, in de form of a Go/No-Go
inhibition task, can alter responses towards food(stimuli) in normal-weight,
overweight and obese children.

References and further information can be found in the protocol.

First: observational pilot study (2x30). An independent samples t-test will be
used to compare normal-weight participants to overweight/obese participants of
performance of different EF tasks. Participants will be matched on level of
school performance and age. It is hypothesized that overweight/obese
participants will show a lower performance on the measures of EF. In addition,
it is hypothesized that participants will show an interference effect (more
inhibition errors and slower reaction times) towards food stimuli.

Second: experimental study design, randomized controlled pilot study (2x2x15).
At the start of the Go/No-Go task participants are randomly assigned to either
a high-calorie food/go condition or high-calorie food/no-go condition;
depending on the condition, participants are either instructed to inhibit
high-calorie food and respond to other food stimuli (vegetables and fruit) or
respond to high-calorie food and inhibit other food stimuli. Performance,
measured in reaction time and amount of inhibition errors, will be compared
between the two conditions and two groups (normal/overweight/obese children)
using a one-way between groups analysis of variance (ANOVA). Besides these two
parameters, the food intake calculated amount of calories will be compared
between the two conditions and groups. It is hypothesized that participants in
the condition high-calorie food/no-go condition will have a decreased food
consumption of the high calorie food. A more detailed description of the study
design can be found in section 8.

References and further information can be found in the protocol.

The burden and risk associated with participation are minimal. Participants
will visit one of the participating medical centre (Erasmus MC, SFG, LUMC)
once, for approximately 30-40 minutes. Participants will complete the NVE-K, 4
EF tasks and a taste test. In addition, weight and height will be measured.

References and further information can be found in the protocol.