Black Adolescent & Entertainment Study

The Effect of Food Marketing and Attentional Biases on Eating Behaviors in African American Adolescent Girls

The study is being conducted to obtain adolescent girls' thoughts and opinions on relationship and communication styles are shown on television.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female,
2. Self-identify as African American or Black,
3. 12 to 17 years of age at the start of the study,
4. Presence of obesity by virtue of a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile for age and sex or non-overweight by virtue of a BMI of at least the5th percentile, but below the 85th percentile, for age and sex,118 and
5. English speaking.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Reports of the presence of a major chronic medical illness: renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, endocrinologic (e.g., Cushing syndrome, hyper- or hypothyroidism), hematological problems or pulmonary disorders (other than asthma not requiring continuous medication),
2. Individuals who self-report major depressive disorder, psychoses, current substance or alcohol use disorder, or any other psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the investigators, would impede competence or compliance or possibly hinder completion of the study.
3. Current, regular use of prescription medications that affect appetite, mood, or body weight: currently prescribed serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), neuroleptics, tricyclics, stimulants, or any other medication known to affect appetite, mood, or body weight. Oral contraceptive use will be permitted, provided the contraceptive has been used for at least two months before the study visit,
4. Failure to provide a rating of 6 or more on at least 50% of food items on the Food Preferences Questionnaire (Appendix F); exceptions may be given for restrictions due to religious practices or food allergies, if food items can be replaced with items of equivalent macronutrient content.