How walnut or pretzel snacks affect the brain and fullness during a diet
Compares walnut and pretzel snacks during dieting in people with overweight or obesity.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of Colorado, Denver
- Where
- Aurora, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Snacking Effects on the Brain Response to Foods and Satiety During Dieting
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 70 people, planned
- Started
- 5 Mar 2026
- Expected to end
- 31 Mar 2028
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Snack Type 1: Walnuts
- Snack Type 2: Pretzels
- Record updated
- 23 March 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults aged 25 to 45 with overweight or obesity who are willing to follow a weight-loss diet and eat a daily snack of walnuts or pretzels.
- Age
- 25 to 45 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- BMI at least 27 kg/m2.
- Earlier treatment
- Cannot have taken weight-loss medicines or steroids in the 3 months before the study (for example GLP-1 receptor agonists). Cannot have had bariatric surgery.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Nut or wheat allergy
- Current eating disorder
- Pregnant, breastfeeding (or under 3 months after stopping), or under 6 months after giving birth
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure (>160/100 mmHg)
- Cannot have an MRI scan (for example metal in the body)
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 19 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- 25-45 years old
- BMI at least 27 kg/m2
- Comfortable completing a weight-loss intervention\
- Willing to consume a daily snack of either walnuts or pretzels
Who cannot take part
- Taking weight-loss medications, or steroids within ~3 months prior to study participation (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists)
- Significant mental health changes within ~3 months prior to study participation (e.g., medication adjustments, new psychiatric diagnoses, hospitalization relating to mental health concerns)
- Weight change greater than 10% within 3 months prior to study participation
- Nut or wheat allergy
- History of bariatric surgery
- Current eating disorder
- Uncontrolled hypertension (>160/100 mmHg)
- Significant endocrine/metabolic disease kidney disease, liver disease, or blood disease that would be anticipated to affect study results
- Taking injectable medications, sulfonylureas, or meglitinides for diabetes treatment
- Neurological illnesses or injury that would be anticipated to affect MRI data
- Current illicit substance use
- Current pregnancy, lactation (or less than 3 months after stopping lactation), or less than 6 months postpartum
- Currently participating in another weight-loss study
- Not comfortable eating the study-provided meals (with allowances for dietary preferences) and/or following a highly restrictive diet (e.g., vegan)
- MRI-specific exclusion criteria (e.g., metal in the body, weight >500 lbs
Check if you might fit
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 25 and 45 years old?
Where in United States
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAurora, United StatesContact: Kristina Legget, PhDTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
This study plans to learn more about how different types of snacks may affect brain processes relating to eating behaviors during a diet intervention.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Snack Type 1: WalnutsTreatment being tested
Participants will complete a 12 week diet intervention, during which they will be asked to reduce their daily caloric intake. During the diet intervention, participants in the Snack Type 1 group will be asked to eat a daily snack of walnuts, which will be provided by the study team. Participants will meet with study staff on a weekly basis during the intervention (with some meetings virtual and in-person visits every 2-3 weeks).
- Snack Type 2: PretzelsExisting treatment, for comparison
Participants will complete a 12 week diet intervention, during which they will be asked to reduce their daily caloric intake. During the diet intervention, participants in the Snack Type 2 group will be asked to eat a daily snack of pretzels, which will be provided by the study team. Participants will meet with study staff on a weekly basis during the intervention (with some meetings virtual and in-person visits every 2-3 weeks).
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Snacking Effects on the Brain Response to Foods and Satiety During Dieting
- Plain-language title
- How walnut or pretzel snacks affect the brain and fullness during a dietGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Fit questions
- Built from NCT07428187, who can take part
- Record updated
- 23 March 2026