Discovering Determinants of Food Intake by Application of Artificial Intelligence to Complex, High-Dimensional Data

What this study involves

The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.

Study type

Observational

Phase

Not applicable / not listed

Age range

18 years - 60 years

Sex eligible

All sexes

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

Participants

800 Estimated

These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.

About the research

Background:

Many people in the United States are overweight or obese. Researchers want to learn why some people can overeat and not gain weight, whereas others who do not overeat still gain weight.

Objective:

To study factors related to food intake that can lead to weight gain over time.

Eligibility:

Healthy adults aged 18 to 60 years.

Design:

Participants will have 6 to 8 clinic visits over 2 years. The first 3 or 4 study visits will be 1 week apart.

Procedures during visits may include the following:

Collection of blood, hair, urine, and stool samples.

Measurement of the waist, neck, thighs, and other parts of the body.

Dual energy x-ray absorption (DXA) scan: Participants will lie still on a padded table while they are scanned to measure body fat.

Physical activity monitor: Participants will wear a monitor on the wrist for 2 weeks.

Cognitive tests: Participants will perform tasks to measure attention, memory, and brain function.

Continuous glucose monitor. Participants will wear a device that measures their blood glucose for 1 week.

Mixed meal test and stomach emptying test. Participants will drink a breakfast shake and swallow a dose of acetaminophen. Blood will be drawn over the next 4 hours.

Resting metabolic rate: Participants will wear a clear hood over their head while they rest for 20 minutes. The hood will measure the gases they breathe.

Breakfast and lunch test. Participants will eat a standard breakfast. They will be allowed to select from foods and eat as much as they like at lunch. They will be asked how hungry or full they are.

Questionnaires. Participants will answer questions about their health, sleep, physical activity, and eating.

Who may be able to participate?

The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

To be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all the following criteria:

1. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
2. Age 18 to 60
3. In good general health as evidenced by medical history and physical exam

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

1. Weight \>=204 kg (\>=450 pounds, maximum weight of the iDXA machine as per manufacturer s manual), or weight \<45.4 kg (\<100 pounds, minimum weight allowed based on the NIH guidelines of blood drawing for research purposes)
2. Unstable weight (+/-5%) within past 6 months as determined by volunteer self-report.
3. Current use of medications, dietary supplements, or alternative therapies known to alter energy metabolism
4. Inability to consume provided food based on food allergy or intolerance or other food restrictions (e.g., kosher, vegan, or vegetarian)
5. Current pregnancy, or recent pregnancy within past 6 months or currently lactating
6. History or clinical manifestation of:

6i. Diabetes, including fasting glucose \>= 126 mg/dl or HbA1c \>= 6.5%, or history

6ii. Surgery for treatment of obesity

6iii. Endocrine disorders, such as Cushing s disease, pituitary disorders, or hypo- and hyperthyroidism (TSH \<0.1 or \>= 10 uIU/mL)

6iv. Pulmonary disorders including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other lung disease that which would limit ability to follow the protocol

6v. History of coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and peripheral artery disease that which would limit ability to follow the protocol

6vi. Liver disease, including cirrhosis, active hepatitis B or C based on history, and AST or ALT \>= 3x normal

6vii. Gastrointestinal disease including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, or other malabsorptive disorders by history

6viii. Hematologic disorders including significant anemia (male hemoglobin \< 13.0 g/dL or female hemoglobin \< 11.0 g/dL)

6ix. Renal disease including abnormal kidney function (eGFR \<60 mL/min/1.73m\^2)

6x. Central nervous system disease, including cerebrovascular accidents, dementia, and neurodegenerative disorders by history

6xi. Cancer requiring treatment in the past 5 years, except for nonmelanoma skin cancers or cancers that have clearly been cured

6xii. Infectious disease such as active tuberculosis, HIV (by self-report), chronic coccidiomycosis or other chronic infections that might influence appetite

6xiii. Diagnosis of binge eating disorder, anorexia, or major psychiatric disorders including depression, schizophrenia, and psychosis

6xiv. Menopausal transition (late) to early postmenopause (e.g., \>= 2 skipped cycles and an interval of amenorrhea \>= 60 days and \<12 months)

7\. Alcohol abuse as defined by \>= 8-point score on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire interview

8\. Inability to provide informed consent

9\. Any disorder, unwillingness, or inability not specifically mentioned above may serve as criteria for exclusion at the discretion of the investigators, such as those that jeopardize the safety of the participant or others, or would interfere with completion of study procedures

Study population

800 males and females, age 18-60 years who are in good health

Treatment, groups and participation

The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.

Assignment

Not reported

Masking

Not reported

What researchers are measuring

Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.

Primary measures

Secondary measures

Research locations (1)

The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.

1 locations

Study team and timeline

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Study start

Nov 15, 2026 Estimated

Primary completion

Jul 1, 2037 Estimated

Study completion

Jul 1, 2037 Estimated

First posted

Jun 10, 2026 Actual

Last updated

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Official study contacts