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Snacking Effects on Brain Response to Foods and Satiety During Dieting

This study is looking at how different snacks, specifically walnuts or pretzels, affect your brain's response to food and feelings of fullness while you are on a diet. You would be asked to reduce your daily calorie intake for 12 weeks and eat either walnuts or pretzels daily, which the study team will provide. Researchers will measure changes in your brain's activity when you see food, using a special type of MRI scan (functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI), at the beginning and end of the 12 weeks. This study is for people aged 25-45 who are overweight or have obesity (BMI at least 27 kg/m2) and are comfortable with a weight-loss plan. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 70 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study where participants will be assigned to one of two snack groups (walnuts or pretzels). It plans to enroll 70 participants.
What's involved
You would participate in a 12-week diet intervention, reducing your daily caloric intake and eating a daily snack of either walnuts or pretzels. Brain scans (fMRI) will be performed at the beginning and end of the 12 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your brain's response to food will be measured at baseline and again at 12 weeks.

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

NCT07428187

Snacking Effects on the Brain Response to Foods and Satiety During Dieting

Recruiting
NAAges 25–45Interventional
University of Colorado, Denver
~70 participants
Updated 2026-03-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Snack Type 1: WalnutsSnack Type 2: Pretzels

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Percent change in Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) response to visual food cues as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging
Measured over Baseline, 12 weeks

Conditions

Overweight/Obesity

Explore related trials

Obesity

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Colorado1

Study leadership

  • Kristina T Legget, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Colorado, Denver

Who to contact

Allison Hild, BS
[email protected]
3037249024
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

25-45 years old
BMI at least 27 kg/m2
Comfortable completing a weight-loss intervention\\
Willing to consume a daily snack of either walnuts or pretzels

Exclusion

Nut or wheat allergy
History of bariatric surgery
Current eating disorder
Current illicit substance use
Current pregnancy, lactation (or less than 3 months after stopping lactation), or less than 6 months postpartum
Uncontrolled hypertension (\>160/100 mmHg)
Significant endocrine/metabolic disease kidney disease, liver disease, or blood disease that would be anticipated to affect study results
Taking injectable medications, sulfonylureas, or meglitinides for diabetes treatment
Taking weight-loss medications, or steroids within \~3 months prior to study participation (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists)
Significant mental health changes within \~3 months prior to study participation (e.g., medication adjustments, new psychiatric diagnoses, hospitalization relating to mental health concerns)
Neurological illnesses or injury that would be anticipated to affect MRI data
Weight change greater than 10% within 3 months prior to study participation
Currently participating in another weight-loss study
Not comfortable eating the study-provided meals (with allowances for dietary preferences) and/or following a highly restrictive diet (e.g., vegan)

What this trial measures

  • Percent change in Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) response to visual food cues as measured by functional magnetic resonance imagingBaseline, 12 weeks

    Percent change in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response from baseline to after the 12-week intervention while viewing visual food cues will be measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), focusing on insula, striatum, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex.