Research Opportunities
Dr. Epstein's Opportunities
Childhood Weight Control ProgramThe Childhood Weight Control Program is a family-based treatment for overweight 8-12 year old children and their parents. The program focuses on modifying eating and activity behaviors to lose weight and become healthier. Parents and children attend weekly, bi-weekly and monthly sessions over a six month period. Outcome evaluations are conducted after six and twelve months. Parents and children learn fun ways to eat healthier and be more active, and parents learn ways to positively motivate their child to change their health behaviors. If you are interested contact us at 829-3400 ex 21 for more information.
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Click and Eat Study
The purpose of this study is to examine food preferences in 8-12 year old children. The study requires one 60-90 minute visit to the lab. During the experiment, the child is asked to play a computer game that will allow him/her to earn points for food to eat. The foods are macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, or pizza. Children can also chooses to do other activities, such as read children's magazines, do puzzles, crossword puzzles, or mazes. Children and parents will be reimbursed for their time. If you'd like more information, call 829-3400, ext 21.
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Dopamine and Eating Study
The purpose of this study is to determine whether motivation to eat is related to the genetics of the dopamine system. Adults 18-50 years of age are eligible to participate in this study. The study involves three visits to the University at Buffalo, two study sessions and one follow up visits. The first two visits will be 60-90 minutes and the follow up visit will be 30 minutes. During the study, participants will be asked to complete a taste test and play a computer game to earn portions of their favorite food. Participants will also be asked to provide a DNA sample. This procedure is non invasive and requires a small amount of the participant's saliva. Participants will be reimbursed for their time. If you'd like more information, call 829-3400 ext. 28.
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Grocery Store Study
The purpose of this study is to look at factors that influence mother's food purchases. Mothers of 6 to 18 year old children will come to the University at Buffalo for three 60-90 minute visits. During the first and second session, mothers will complete two short tasks. In one task mothers will make choices between different monetary rewards and in the other task, mothers will play a computer game to earn points for portions of food. During the third session, mothers will be given a certain amount of money to purchase food for their family in a hypothetical grocery store. Mothers will be reimbursed for their time. If you'd like more information, call 829-3400 ext. 28.
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TV and Activity Study
The purpose of this study is to determine if limiting television and computer time changes children's physical activity. Families will come to the University at Buffalo three times, once for an orientation of the study and twice for screening appointments. Throughout the study we will measure children's physical activity with an accelerometer, a small pager-sized device that clips onto your child's waistband, and their food intake. Eligible families will have TV allowance devices, electronic boxes used to measure TV and computer use, installed on each TV and computer. The TV allowance device can be use to limit TV and computer use by programming it to allow a specific number of hours per week. The study lasts for 9 weeks, we will come to families homes 5 times over the 9 week period to install the devices, to check data, and to remove devices. Children and families will be reimbursed for their participation in the study. If you'd like more information, call 829-3400 ext. 17.
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Dr. Roemmich's Opportunities
Neighborhood and Park StudyThe study is looking at how neighborhood and park design are related to the physical activity of children. Eligible children must be between the ages of 8 and 15 years and live within one mile of Delaware Park. For one week, children who participate in this study will wear a pager-sized physical activity monitor that is worn around the waist to measure their daily physical activity and a global positioning system (GPS) unit that is worn around the wrist to track where they have been physically active. Children will also be asked to record all of their activities in a behavior log. The study lasts for one week and consists of two visits to Delaware Park. Due to the nature of the study, appointments are scheduled only during the spring, summer, and early fall seasons. If you would like more information, please call 829-3400 ext. 23.
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Neighborhood Environment Study
The purpose of this study is to examine how the neighborhood environment influences the physical activity of adolescents aged 12-15 years when television and computer time is reduced (limited). Eligible youth and their parents will have their physical activity measured at the beginning, middle, and end of the study by wearing a pager-sized physical activity monitor that is worn around the waist for one week. Adolescents will also wear a global positioning system (GPS) unit that is worn around the wrist to track where they have been physically active. Adolescents and parents will be asked to record all of their activities in a behavior log when they are wearing the equipment. Families will have a TV Allowance on each TV and computer monitor. These devices will measure TV and computer use and may also be used to reduce the amount of time the adolescent can watch TV or use the computer. The study lasts for 14 weeks. Families will come to the University at Buffalo 5 times to complete study measurements and study personnel will visit families' homes 6 times to install the devices, to check data, and to remove devices. Both adolescents and parents will be reimbursed for participating in the study. If you would like more information, please call 829-3400 ext. 30.
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Self-Control Study
The purpose of this study is to determine how reading, exercising, or giving a speech influences children's self-control to eat cookies. Eligible children must be between the ages of 7 and 9 years, cannot have any conditions that would prevent them from exercising, have no food allergies, and cannot be taking any medications. Children will come to the University at Buffalo for 1 visit that will last approximately 1.5 hours. Children will read magazines or color, ride a bicycle, or give a speech. They will then be given a choice of cookies to eat. Heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels will be measured throughout the study. If you would like more information, please call 829-3400 ext 30.
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Dr. Salvy's Opportunities
Friendship and Fitness Training for TeensThe purpose of this study is to examine the effect of social skills training on adolescents physical activity levels. Eligible children must be between the ages of 12 and 14 years. For one week at the beginning and end of the study teens will wear a BioTrainer to measure their activity levels and also wear a pager to communicate the types of activities they are doing throughout the day. For 8 weeks participants will be randomized into one of two groups, a social skills training group or a physical activity group. If you would like more information, please call 829-3400 ext. 31.
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