Clinical trial · Interventional
Devaluing Foods to Change Eating Behavior
Devaluing Energy-dense Foods for Cancer-control: Translational Neuroscience
NCT03557710CI-TRIAL-00068737completedN/AClinicalTrials.gov clinicaltrialsProvenance
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
Excessive eating of energy-dense foods and obesity are risk factors for a range of cancers. There are programs to reduce intake of these foods and weight loss, but the effects of the programs rarely last. This project tests whether altering the value of cancer-risk foods can create lasting change, and uses neuroimaging to compare the efficacy of two programs to engage the valuation system on a neural level. Results will establish the pathways through which the programs work and suggest specific treatments for individuals based on a personalized profile.
Conditions
Conditions (2)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Malignant Neoplasm | ALIAS | 0.90 |
| Overweight and Obesity | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (1)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devaluing energy-dense foods for cancer-control | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (3)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Behavioral Response Training
- description
- In Arm 1 of Devaluing energy-dense foods for cancer-control, participants will complete computer delivered versions of the stop-signal, go/no-go, and dot-probe training tasks in 8 30-min biweekly visits to the lab, with breaks between training blocks in which participants sit with their eyes closed to allow consolidation of learning. Participants will also complete a weekly 15-min training task online from home. Total training time = 345 min. Training will involve 100 images of cancer risk foods that participants regularly eat, including red and processed meats; high-sugar foods; heavily salted, smoked, and pickled foods; fries, chips, and snacks with trans-fats, and 100 images of healthy foods that participants rate as palatable, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Devaluing energy-dense foods for cancer-control
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Cognitive Reappraisal Training
- description
- Arm 2 of the Devaluing energy-dense foods for cancer-control intervention will be delivered via computer-assisted in-person training. Between baseline and endpoint sessions, participants will practice reappraisal on a computer, under close supervision of a facilitator, in 8 30-min twice-weekly individual sessions. During sessions, participants will practice cognitive reappraisal to reduce the value of cancer risk foods. Participants will also practice reappraisal of cancer risk foods on a computer at home, twice weekly for 15 minutes, for a total intervention time of contact of 345 minutes. The facilitator will review homework completed by participants and offer corrective feedback. The home practice is intended to promote generalization of use of this skill in the natural environment.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
- Maximum age
- 60 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: \- overweight to obese range (BMI 25-35) Exclusion Criteria: * metal implants (e.g., braces, permanent retainers, pins) * metal fragments, pacemakers or other electronic medical implants * claustrophobia * weight ˃ 550 lbs. * Women who are pregnant or believe they might be pregnant * people who have been diagnosed with past or current medical, psychiatric, neurological, eating disorders, or are taking psychotropic medications * urine screen to exclude participants who are acutely intoxicated * screen for handedness Beyond these criteria, participants will be recruited without exclusions based on gender, race, or ethnicity, so our sample will reflect the diversity in the local population (Lane County, Oregon) with regard to gender, race, and ethnicity.
References
Publications (17)
- BACKGROUNDBerkman ET, Burklund L, Lieberman MD. Inhibitory spillover: intentional motor inhibition produces incidental limbic inhibition via right inferior frontal cortex. Neuroimage. 2009 Aug 15;47(2):705-12. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.04.084. Epub 2009 May 6. PMID 19426813
- BACKGROUNDBerkman ET, Falk EB. Beyond Brain Mapping: Using Neural Measures to Predict Real-World Outcomes. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2013 Feb;22(1):45-50. doi: 10.1177/0963721412469394. PMID 24478540
- BACKGROUNDBerkman ET, Falk EB, Lieberman MD. In the trenches of real-world self-control: neural correlates of breaking the link between craving and smoking. Psychol Sci. 2011 Apr;22(4):498-506. doi: 10.1177/0956797611400918. Epub 2011 Mar 4. PMID 21378368
- BACKGROUNDBerkman ET, Kahn LE, Merchant JS. Training-induced changes in inhibitory control network activity. J Neurosci. 2014 Jan 1;34(1):149-57. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3564-13.2014. PMID 24381276
- BACKGROUNDGiuliani NR, Calcott RD, Berkman ET. Piece of cake. Cognitive reappraisal of food craving. Appetite. 2013 May;64:56-61. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.12.020. Epub 2013 Jan 9. PMID 23313699
- BACKGROUNDGiuliani NR, Mann T, Tomiyama AJ, Berkman ET. Neural systems underlying the reappraisal of personally craved foods. J Cogn Neurosci. 2014 Jul;26(7):1390-402. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00563. Epub 2014 Jan 6. PMID 24392892
- BACKGROUNDGiuliani NR, Tomiyama AJ, Mann T, Berkman ET. Prediction of daily food intake as a function of measurement modality and restriction status. Psychosom Med. 2015 Jun;77(5):583-90. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000187. PMID 25984820
- BACKGROUNDStice E, Burger K, Yokum S. Caloric deprivation increases responsivity of attention and reward brain regions to intake, anticipated intake, and images of palatable foods. Neuroimage. 2013 Feb 15;67:322-30. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.11.028. Epub 2012 Nov 28.