Eating BehaviorsVarxEDNCT07663214
The Combined Effects of Energy Density and Variety on Intake
A study testing Low Variety, High Variety and Low ED in people with Eating Behaviors, run by Cornell University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the independent and combined effects of variety and energy density on food intake at a meal. Additionally, individual characteristics will be examined for their influence on the effects of variety and energy density on intake. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Eating Behaviors
- What is being tested?
- Low Variety, High Variety and Low ED
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 12 Oct 2026to 31 Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Regularly consume 3 meals per day
- Like, are willing to eat, and do not have allergies to the study foods
- Are willing to refrain from drinking alcohol the day before study visits
- Are willing to consume a consistent breakfast the day of study visits
- Have a BMI between 18.5-29.9 kg/m2
Who cannot join
- Experienced a weight change >5 kg in the past month
- Are a smoker
- Are an athlete in training
- Take medications or have a health condition known to affect appetite
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have ever been diagnosed with an eating disorder or depression
- Specialize in the fields of psychology or nutritional sciences.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York, 14850
Paige M Cunningham, PhD, 607-255-2650, pmc242@cornell.edu
Paige M Cunningham, PhD
About this study
The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the independent and combined effects of variety and energy density on food intake at a meal. Additionally, individual characteristics will be examined for their influence on the effects of variety and energy density on intake.
- Conditions
- Eating Behaviors
- Being tested
- Low Variety, High Variety, Low ED, High ED
- Medical subject headings
- Feeding Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Low VarietyOther
Only one food served
High VarietyOther
Three foods served
Low EDOther
Foods are low in energy density
High EDOther
Foods are high in energy density
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Low variety, Low ED | Experimental | One low energy dense food served Receives: Other: Low Variety; Other: Low ED |
| Low variety, High ED | Experimental | One high energy dense foods served Receives: Other: Low Variety; Other: High ED |
| High variety, Low ED | Experimental | Three low energy dense foods served Receives: Other: High Variety; Other: Low ED |
| High variety, High ED | Experimental | Three high energy dense foods served Receives: Other: High Variety; Other: High ED |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in food intake
Weight (grams) of the food consumed
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in energy intake
Energy (kcal) of the food consumed
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Secondary outcomes (14)
Change in water intake
Weight (grams) of water consumed
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in meal duration
Duration of the meal in minutes
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in eating rate
Mean food intake per minute (grams/minute), calculated by dividing meal food intake by meal duration
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in sip count
The number of sips of water during the meal
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in bite count
The number of bites of food during the meal
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in bite size
Mean grams of food consumed per bite, calculated by dividing meal food intake by number of bites.
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in switching between bites and sips
The number of switches between bites and sips during the meal
Measured: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of liking of the taste of food samples
Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all pleasant (0 mm) to extremely pleasant (100 mm). This will be used to calculate Sensory-Specific Satiety
Measured: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of desire to eat food samples
Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all strong (0 mm) to extremely strong (100 mm), in answer to "How strong is your desire to eat [this food] right now?". This will be used to calculate Sensory-Specific Satiety.
Measured: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of thirst
Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all thirsty (0 mm) to extremely thirsty (100 mm)
Measured: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of hunger
Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all hungry (0 mm) to extremely hungry (100 mm)
Measured: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of nausea
Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all nauseated (0 mm) to extremely nauseated (100 mm)
Measured: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of fullness
Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from not at all full (0 mm) to extremely full (100 mm)
Measured: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of prospective consumption
Measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale ranging from nothing at all (0 mm) to a large amount (100 mm), in answer to "How much food do you think you could eat right now?".
Measured: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jun 2026
- Study start12 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Eating BehaviorsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cornell University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Paige M Cunningham, PhD, Principal investigator, Cornell University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07663214
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB0150706
- Acronym
- VarxED
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Combined Effects of Energy Density and Variety on Intake
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07663214
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- VarxED / IRB0150706
- Conditions
- Eating Behaviors
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cornell UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 12 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the independent and combined effects of variety and energy density on food intake at a meal. Additionally, individual characteristics will be examined for their influence on the effects of variety and energy density on intake.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Low variety, Low ED | Experimental | Other: Low Variety, Other: Low EDOne low energy dense food served |
| Low variety, High ED | Experimental | Other: Low Variety, Other: High EDOne high energy dense foods served |
| High variety, Low ED | Experimental | Other: High Variety, Other: Low EDThree low energy dense foods served |
| High variety, High ED | Experimental | Other: High Variety, Other: High EDThree high energy dense foods served |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Regularly consume 3 meals per day
- Like, are willing to eat, and do not have allergies to the study foods
- Are willing to refrain from drinking alcohol the day before study visits
- Are willing to consume a consistent breakfast the day of study visits
- Have a BMI between 18.5-29.9 kg/m2
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Experienced a weight change >5 kg in the past month
- Are a smoker
- Are an athlete in training
- Take medications or have a health condition known to affect appetite
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Low VarietyOnly one food served | Other | Low variety, High ED, Low variety, Low ED |
| High VarietyThree foods served | Other | High variety, High ED, High variety, Low ED |
| Low EDFoods are low in energy density | Other | High variety, Low ED, Low variety, Low ED |
| High EDFoods are high in energy density | Other | High variety, High ED, Low variety, High ED |
Primary outcome
Change in food intake
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight (grams) of the food consumed
Change in energy intake
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Energy (kcal) of the food consumed
14 secondary outcomes
Change in water intake
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in meal duration
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in eating rate
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in sip count
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in bite count
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in bite size
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in switching between bites and sips
Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of liking of the taste of food samples
Time frame: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of desire to eat food samples
Time frame: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of thirst
Time frame: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of hunger
Time frame: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of nausea
Time frame: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of fullness
Time frame: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Change in rating of prospective consumption
Time frame: From before the test meal to after the test meal in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Paige M Cunningham, PhD principal investigator
Cornell University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Low Variety, High Variety and Low ED in people with Eating Behaviors, run by Cornell University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Paige M Cunningham, PhD (607-255-2650, pmc242@cornell.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in food intake (time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Oct 2026.