Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been known for over a decade to have the potential to greatly enhance the process of developing novel therapeutic drugs for prevalent health conditions. However, the use of fMRI in drug development continues to be relatively limited because of a variety of technical, biological, and strategic barriers that continue to limit progress. Here, we briefly review the roles that fMRI can have in the drug development process and the requirements it must meet to be useful in this setting. We then provide an update on our current understanding of the strengths and limitations of fMRI as a tool for drug developers and recommend activities to enhance its utility.

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Mouth rinsing (MR) with carbohydrate during exercise has been shown to act as an ergogenic aid. Purpose To investigate if nutritive or nonnutritive sweetened MR affect exercise performance, and to assess the influence of sweetness intensity on endurance performance during a time-trial (TT). Methods This randomized, single blinded study had 4 treatment conditions. 16 subjects (9 men, 7 women) completed a 12.8km TT four different times. During each TT, subjects MR and expectorated a different solution at time 0 and every 12.5% of the TT. The 4 MR solutions were: sucrose (S) (sweet taste and provides energy of 4 kcals/g), a lower intensity sucralose (S1:1) (artificial sweetener that provides no energy but tastes sweet), a higher intensity sucralose (S100:1), and water as control (C). Completion times for each TT, heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were also recorded. Results Completion time for S was faster than C (1:03:47±00:02:17 vs. 1:06:56±00:02:18; p<0.001, respectively), and showed a trend to be faster vs. S100:1 (1:03:47±00:02:17 vs. 1:05:38±00:02:12; p=0.07, respectively). No other TT differences were found. Average HR showed a trend to be higher for S vs. C (p=0.08). There only differences in average or max RPE was for higher max RPE in C vs. S1:1 (p=0.02). Conclusion A sweet tasting MR did improve endurance performance compared to water in a significant manner (avg. 4.5% improvement; 3+ min.); however, the presence of energy in the sweet MR appeared necessary since the artificial sweeteners did not improve performance more than water alone.

Background: Decreasing selection and consumption of sodium and added sugars in the school cafeteria setting is important to provide optimal nutrition to children. Objective: To determine if Louisiana (LA) Health, a school-based obesity prevention intervention, could successfully reduce children’s selection and consumption of sodium and added sugars during school lunches vs. the control group. Design: Food selection, consumption, and plate waste from student lunches (3 consecutive days) in 33 public schools in rural Louisiana were collected and analyzed using the digital photography of foods method at baseline and after a 28-month obesity prevention intervention (LA Health) beginning in 4 th -6 th grade (87% of children received free or reduced cost lunch). Selection and consumption of energy, added sugar, and sodium was objectively measured using digital photography of foods. Mixed models, including Race and BMI, were used to determine if change in selection and consumption differed by group. Results: Sodium decreased for selection (−233.1±89.4 mg/lunch, p=0.04) and consumption (−206.3±65.9, mg/lunch) in the intervention (vs. control) by month 18, and in consumption by month 28 (−153.5±66.9 mg/lunch, p=0.03). Change in added sugar consumption decreased in the intervention (vs. control) at month 18 (−3.7±1.6, p=0.05) and at month 28 (−3.5±1.6 tsp/lunch, p=0.05). Conclusions: LA Health decreased the amount of added sugar and sodium selected and consumed, but not plate waste, by month 28. Results highlight the importance of long-term interventions and policies targeting provision and selection to improve dietary patterns in children, with less focus on plate waste. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT00289315 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00289315?term=LA+Health&rank=1

Objectives: To pilot test a home-based parent training intervention aimed at maintaining body weight among children at risk for obesity (>75 th BMI percentile). Methods: Sixteen parent/child dyads were randomized to a Health Education or DRIVE intervention arms. DRIVE is a structured parenting program to promote healthy weight in children by relying on behavioral principles to promote skill acquisition in the family's natural setting. Body weight and waist circumference were measured at baseline, week 9, and week 19. Results: BMIz, body weight, and % body weight increased in children in the Health Education arm vs. DRIVE at weeks 9 and 19. Body weight, % body weight, and waist circumference decreased in parents in DRIVE vs. the Health Education arm at week 19, while no differences were shown at week 9. Conclusions and Implications: DRIVE mitigated weight gain in a small sample of at-risk children and shows promising results to reduce weight in parents. Home-based interventions emphasizing parent-child interactions are indicated as a practical model to deliver weight management in children.