Actively Recruiting
Mechanisms Underlying Individual Variations of Taste and Smell in Obesity
Led by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) · Updated on 2025-08-12
350
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
242 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Background: Changes to the sense of taste or smell can change eating behavior. This may contribute to obesity. Researchers want to see how taste and smell perceptions that affect food choices may differ between people with obesity and without obesity. Objective: To understand the role that senses of taste and smell play in food intake. Eligibility: Adults ages 18-65 with obesity and without obesity Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical exam. They will have a neurological and sensory exam. They will give blood and urine samples. They will be checked for previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. They will complete questionnaires about their eating habits, alcohol use, and smoking history. Participants will have 2 study visits. Participants will give stool, urine, blood, hair, nasal, and saliva samples. These samples will be used for gene testing. Participants will have their weight, height, and hip and waist circumference measured. They will have an imaging scan that measures body composition. Participants will complete questionnaires about their health, eating habits, and food preferences. Participants will have taste tests and smell tests. They will have sensory tests to assess their response to stimuli. Participants will have a dietary assessment. They will complete a food diary and a diet history questionnaire. Participants will get a meal to eat. Data will be collected about their experience. Participants will complete a sleep diary and wear a watch to measure their activity....
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Mechanisms Underlying Individual Variations of Taste and Smell in Obesity
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Males and females between 18 to 65 years of age
- BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m^2 for healthy controls or between 30 and 39.9 kg/m^2 for obese subjects
- Fasted plasma glucose levels between 68-126 mg/dl or per Clinical Center ranges, and hemoglobin A1C <6.5%
- Able to provide own consent
- Able to understand the protocol, demonstrated by scoring 6 out of 6 on a consent quiz
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of type II diabetes
- Use of hypoglycemic drugs
- Weight change of more than 15 pounds in the 6 months prior to screening
- Positive pregnancy test, currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Current use of steroidal or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications, GLP1 agonists, antiepileptic or antidepressant agents, glucocorticoids, or antibiotics
- Diagnosis of morbid obesity, liver or renal disease
- Current heavy drinking exceeding set limits for women and men
- Use of tobacco products or illicit drugs in the last 30 days
- Uncontrolled medical disorders such as gastrointestinal, endocrine, cardiac, or psychiatric conditions
- History of chronic rhinitis, eating disorder, chronic upper respiratory infection, chronic allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps in the last 6 months, or current daily use of nasal sprays
- Abnormal blood counts indicating anemia or other issues
- Bariatric surgery within the last 12 months
- History of cancer or cancer treatment affecting head and neck
- Altered cranial nerves detected during neurological exam
- Temporary or persistent loss of taste or smell
- Inability to read and understand English
- Employment or relation to NIAAA staff or investigators
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
N
Nada M Saleh
CONTACT
P
Paule V Joseph, C.R.N.P.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
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