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Monitoring Eating Across Locations (MEAL) - Timing, Intake, and Mealtime Evaluation (TIME) Study for Pediatric Obesity

This study, called MEAL-TIME, is looking at how children eat in different places to understand pediatric obesity. Researchers want to see if how children eat in a lab setting is similar to how they eat at home, and what parts of the home environment might encourage eating behaviors that lead to obesity. The study will involve 100 children between 6 and 9 years old who are generally healthy and not taking medications that affect weight or eating. The main goals are to measure your child's body mass index (BMI) and how much food they eat (in grams and calories) during a standard meal, both in a lab and at home. The study is currently unclear on its status.

Study design
This is an interventional study involving 100 participants. It will compare eating behaviors when children eat at home versus in a lab.
What's involved
Your child will have their BMI measured on Day 1. Their food intake during a standard meal will be measured on Day 1 and again on Day 2 or 3, depending on how they are assigned to the study groups.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Measurements for the study's main goals are taken on Day 1 and Day 2 or 3.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07095166

Monitoring Eating Across Locations (MEAL) - Timing, Intake, and Mealtime Evaluation (TIME)

Recruiting
NAAges 6–9InterventionalBasic science
Penn State University
~100 participants
Updated 2026-03-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Meal Location

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Child body mass index
Measured over Day 1
+10 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Pediatric Obesity

Explore related trials

Obesity

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania1

Who to contact

Alaina Pearce, PhD
[email protected]
3206305713
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

children must be between the ages of 6-9 years-old
children are of good health with no learning disabilities (e.g., ADHD, determined by parent report)
children are not on any medications known to impact body weight, taste, food intake, behavior, or blood flow
parents report that children like and are willing to eat study foods

Exclusion

Children are not within the age requirements (\<6 years old or \> 9 years old)
If children are taking cold or allergy medication, or other medications known to influence cognitive function, taste, appetite, or blood flow.
If children don't speak English.
If children are colorblind.
If children have a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, language delays, autism or other neurological or psychological conditions.
If children have a pre-existing medical condition such as type I or type II diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Cushing's syndrome, Down's syndrome, severe lactose intolerance, Prader-Willi syndrome, HIV, cancer, renal failure, or cerebral palsy.
If children are allergic to foods or ingredients used in the study.
child received an X-ray in the previous year (to avoid excess radiation exposure due to the DXA scans performed in the research)

What this trial measures

  • Child body mass indexDay 1

    child height and weight will be measured

  • Food intake in grams during a standard mealDay 1 and Day 2 or 3 depending on randomization

    Intake in grams from standard meal

  • Food intake in kcal during a standard mealDay 1 and Day 2 or 3 depending on randomization

    Intake in kcal during a standard meal

  • Video coding of standard mealDay 1 and Day 2 or 3 depending on randomization

    A digital recording of the child eating a standard meal will be saved. The study team have developed a behavior coding protocol to measure child meal microstructure (e.g., bites, bite size, meal duration) and have also validated a computational model to assess cumulative intake curves from video coded bite data.

  • Food intake in grams during a snack buffet when not hungryDay 1

    Intake in grams during a snack buffet using a standard eating in the absence of hunger paradigm (i.e., non-homeostatic intake)

  • Food intake in kcal during a snack buffet when not hungryDay 1

    Intake in kcal during a snack buffet using a standard eating in the absence of hunger paradigm (i.e., non-homeostatic intake)

  • Body CompositionDay 1

    Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to assess body composition including fat mass and fat-free mass in children

  • Food intake in grams during a Study MealDay 2 or 3 depending on randomization and home meal administration

    Intake in grams from Study Meal

  • Food intake in kcal during the Study MealDay 2 or 3 depending on randomization and home meal administration

    Intake in kcal during the Study Meal

  • Video coding of the study mealDay 2 or 3 depending on randomization and home meal administration

    A digital recording of the child eating a Study Meal will be saved. The study team have developed a behavior coding protocol to measure child meal microstructure (e.g., bites, bite size, meal duration) and have also validated a computational model to assess cumulative intake curves from video coded bite data.

  • Video coding of home mealsWeek 1 and Week 2

    Digital recordings of the child eating a typical meals at home. The study team have developed a behavior coding protocol to measure child meal microstructure (e.g., bites, bite size, meal duration) and have also validated a computational model to assess cumulative intake curves from video coded bite data.