Parents Thoughts About Kids and Eating

Purpose

This study will investigate the impact of health information on choices that parents make
about food for their children. Participants will use a virtual reality model of a buffet to
make food choices.

Mothers and fathers with a biological child between the ages of 3-7 years old may be eligible
for this study. Participants are recruited from the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Study participants will complete THREE sets of surveys and one task. Participants will
complete a web-based survey before coming in for a study appointment. When participants
arrive for their appointment, they will watch an interactive presentation on health
information. Next, participants will interact in a virtual reality environment and will be
asked to select virtual lunch for their child from a buffet. While in the virtual
environment, a participant wears a head-mounted virtual reality headset that allows him/her
to see elements of the environment. Participants will complete an additional computer-based
survey. Finally, participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire a week
following their visit. The total time for the study visit is approximately 90 minutes. The
participants children will not be asked to take part in the study.

Detailed Description

This study will investigate issues around the impact of health information on choices that
parents make about food for their children. Participants will perform tasks that include
completing computer-based surveys, watching an interactive computer-based presentation about
health information, participating in a virtual reality model by selecting virtual lunch for
their children from a buffet, and completing a computed-based exit survey. As part of the
study, participants will wear a virtual reality helmet and be immersed in a buffet where they
will select virtual lunch for their child.

For this study, we are only recruiting men and women that have a biological child between the
ages of 3-7 years old. You may not take part in the study if you have a history of seizures
and/or are pregnant.

- INCLUSION CRITERIA :

Study 1:

All participants will be healthy adult women over the age of 18 (though in practice the age
range is likely to be constrained naturally by the required age of the index child).

1. having a self-reported body mass index of greater than or equal to 25

2. having some amount of familiarity with their family health history

3. having a biological child between the ages of 4 and 5 inclusive, who lives in the same
household at least 1 day out of the past 30 days, and who has no major food allergies
or diet-related health conditions, developmental delays, or disabilities

4. having the ability to read and write in English

5. being able to come to the NIH Clinical Center for one visit

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. having a vestibular or seizure disorder;

2. having a high propensity for motion sickness;

3. known pregnancy; (4) uncorrected low vision or hearing;

(5) inability to complete tasks in the virtual environment;

(6) past or current history of eating disorder;

(7) NHGRI employees

Study 2:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

All participants will be healthy adults over the age of 18 (though in practice the age
range is likely to be constrained naturally by the required age of the index child).

1. having a self-perception of being overweight

2. having a biological child between the ages of 3 and 7

inclusive (of any weight), who has no food allergies to buffet items (e.g., dairy,
wheat, fruit) or diet-related health conditions, developmental delays, or disabilities
that would severely limit food

choices on the virtual buffet and who does not have a vegan or gluten-free diet

3. self-reporting that the parent is responsible for feeding to the child to criterion

4. having the ability to read and write in English

5. being able to come to the NIH Clinical Center for one visit

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. having a vestibular or seizure disorder

2. having a high propensity for motion sickness

3. known pregnancy

4. uncorrected low vision or hearing

5. inability to complete tasks in the virtual environment

6. past or current history of eating disorder

7. NHGRI employees

8. having another household member or another biological parent of their index child
having participated in the study

9. women who report being pregnant