ObesityNCT02099812
Web-based Collection of Data on Obesity and Health Behavior
An observational study of Obesity, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Trial summary
Low socioeconomic status (low SES), as defined by educational attainment and income, has been associated with obesity in industrialized nations. Low SES has been related to impulsive decision-making characterized by steep devaluation of future outcomes (delay discounting, DD) and a greater motivation to obtain food… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Obesity
- How many people
- 1,585 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Dec 2012to Sep 2014
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Amazon Mechanical Turk users
Who may be able to join
- Be a registered Amazon Mechanical Turk user.
Who cannot join
None listed.
About this study
Low socioeconomic status (low SES), as defined by educational attainment and income, has been associated with obesity in industrialized nations. Low SES has been related to impulsive decision-making characterized by steep devaluation of future outcomes (delay discounting, DD) and a greater motivation to obtain food (food reinforcement, FR). DD and FR have been shown to interactively predict ad libitum energy intake in laboratory studies, such that participants exhibiting high FR as well as high DD consume the most food. Obesity often results from energy intake in excess of physiologic needs, and thus a plausible mechanism is that low SES environments increase FR and DD, leading to overeating and obesity. The primary aims of this study are to determine whether FR and DD interact to predict BMI, and whether differences in FR and DD mediate the relationship between low SES and obesity, in a large sample of US adults of varying BMI. In addition, whether high FR and high DD are related to unhealthy food purchasing and eating behaviors will be assessed. It is anticipated that high FR and DD will be related to unhealthy food purchasing and eating behaviors.
Read the detailed description
In this study potential participants who log in to the Amazon Mechanical Turk website as a worker and who have a HIT approval rate of at least 90% will be allowed to view and participate in the study. If a potential participant agrees to participate in the study by accepting the HIT, the participant will be asked to complete a brief survey (approximately 150 questions; see sample survey in "other supporting documents") and various decision making tasks (e.g., delay discounting assessment, reinforcer valuation assessment etc.). This survey and accompanying tasks will solicit: (a) general demographic information such as gender, age, income, and education; (b) information about their health and health behavior practices, such as eating habits, alcohol and cigarette use; (c) questions about their food preferences and value of foods; (d) information about their valuation of immediate versus distant events/rewards.
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Medical subject headings
- Obesity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Obese | Obese individuals | |
| Non-obese | Non-obese individuals |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Delay discounting rate
Degree to which future rewards are devalued
Measured: 1 hour
Food reinforcement
Participant's valuation of food items.
Measured: 1 hour
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Mar 2014 (estimated)
- Study startDec 2012
- Primary completionJun 2013
- Study completionSep 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for ObesityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 1,585 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- State University of New York at Buffalo
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jeffrey Stein, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02099812
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- VT-12-483
- Status last verified
- Jan 2025
- First submitted
- 10 Mar 2014
- Last updated
- 24 Jan 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Epstein LH, Jankowiak N, Lin H, Paluch R, Koffarnus MN, Bickel WK. No food for thought: moderating effects of delay discounting and future time perspective on the relation between income and food insecurity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Sep;100(3):884-90. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.079772. Epub 2014 Jul 9.
PubMed 25008855
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Jan 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Web-based Collection of Data on Obesity and Health Behavior
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02099812
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- VT-12-483
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 1,585 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study start
- Dec 2012
- Primary completion
- Jun 2013 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 31 Mar 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Low socioeconomic status (low SES), as defined by educational attainment and income, has been associated with obesity in industrialized nations. Low SES has been related to impulsive decision-making characterized by steep devaluation of future outcomes (delay discounting, DD) and a greater motivation to obtain food (food reinforcement, FR). DD and FR have been shown to interactively predict ad libitum energy intake in laboratory studies, such that participants exhibiting high FR as well as high DD consume the most food. Obesity often results from energy intake in excess of physiologic needs, and thus a plausible mechanism is that low SES environments increase FR and DD, leading to overeating and obesity. The primary aims of this study are to determine whether FR and DD interact to predict BMI, and whether differences in FR and DD mediate the relationship between low SES and obesity, in a large sample of US adults of varying BMI. In addition, whether high FR and high DD are related to unhealthy food purchasing and eating behaviors will be assessed. It is anticipated that high FR and DD will be related to unhealthy food purchasing and eating behaviors.
Detailed description
In this study potential participants who log in to the Amazon Mechanical Turk website as a worker and who have a HIT approval rate of at least 90% will be allowed to view and participate in the study. If a potential participant agrees to participate in the study by accepting the HIT, the participant will be asked to complete a brief survey (approximately 150 questions; see sample survey in "other supporting documents") and various decision making tasks (e.g., delay discounting assessment, reinforcer valuation assessment etc.). This survey and accompanying tasks will solicit: (a) general demographic information such as gender, age, income, and education; (b) information about their health and health behavior practices, such as eating habits, alcohol and cigarette use; (c) questions about their food preferences and value of foods; (d) information about their valuation of immediate versus distant events/rewards.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Obese | – | –Obese individuals |
| Non-obese | – | –Non-obese individuals |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Amazon Mechanical Turk users
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Be a registered Amazon Mechanical Turk user.
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Delay discounting rate
Time frame: 1 hour
Degree to which future rewards are devalued
Food reinforcement
Time frame: 1 hour
Participant's valuation of food items.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Jan 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25008855Epstein LH, Jankowiak N, Lin H, Paluch R, Koffarnus MN, Bickel WK. No food for thought: moderating effects of delay discounting and future time perspective on the relation between income and food insecurity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Sep;100(3):884-90. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.079772. Epub 2014 Jul 9.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Obesity, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Delay discounting rate (time frame: 1 hour). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02099812, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Jan 2025.