Making up your mind: Obesity and Female Brain Development v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Making up your mind: Obesity and Female Adolescent Brain development (O-FAB Trial)
IRAS ID
314750
Contact name
Rachel Lord
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
Wales is currently facing an obesity epidemic with almost 25% of children leaving school obese. Obesity during the teenage years is especially concerning, because this is a key time for brain development, with significant structural and functional changes occurring. The brain may therefore be more at risk to negative adaptation from harmful stimuli, including obesity and physical inactivity, during this window. Teenage obesity in girls causes an increase in androgen hormones and issues with insulin responsiveness. This response in girls is concerning for two reasons, 1) androgens are implicated in PCOS development, a disease which causes issues with menstrual cycle and fertility, and is associated with developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease and 2) both androgens and insulin resistance cause changes in brain structure and reduce brain blood flow and cognitive function in adults. Importantly, the interaction between these hormone changes, obesity and brain structure and function has never been assessed during adolescence, when the brain may be vulnerable to maladaptation. Therefore, our aim is to determine whether brain blood flow is lower in obese teenage girls compared to girls the same age who are healthy weight, and explore whether insulin resistance or androgens levels are related to a lower blood flow. This information will allow early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of girls who are at risk of developing PCOS.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
22/WA/0313
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion