# Enhancing alternatives to eating in infancy

> **NIH NIH R01** · STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO · 2020 · $475,652

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Obesity is a disorder of positive energy balance in which energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. The
motivation to eat is a basic human need, which is present at birth. One factor that may lead to increased
energy intake is the imbalance between the motivation to eat and the motivation to engage in other behaviors.
The motivation to eat versus engaging in other behaviors can be operationalized as the relative reinforcing
value of eating versus alternative behaviors. A strong motivation to eat instead of engaging in alternative
behaviors has been related to increased energy intake in adults. The motivation to eat is cross-sectionally and
prospectively related to obesity in children, adolescents, and adults, and cross-sectionally related to weight
status in infants. Shifting the balance from high motivation to eat to increased motivation to engage in
alternative behaviors can reduce energy intake, and may be protective against weight gain. We have recently
shown that a structured program to enhance music engagement in infants who are strongly motivated to eat
can shift their choice from food to music. The goal of this study is to expand on this preliminary research and
examine long-term effects of this intervention in infants who are highly motivated to eat. We are proposing to
randomize 92 healthy infants who are high in food reinforcement to a music enhancement program versus an
attention placebo play date and assess changes in food/non-food reinforcement, infant energy intake, weight
for length z-score, and enriched home environment, and follow the development of these infants over a 24
month period. We predict that the music program, in comparison to the control play date, will result in a shift in
choice from a motivation to eat to a motivation to engage in alternatives to eating (Specific Aim 1) and thus
reduce energy intake (Specific Aim 1a), lower weight for length z-score (zWFL) (Specific Aim 2), and create
a more enriched home environment (Specific Aim 3) at each measurement interval. We propose that
enhancing the motivation to engage in alternatives to eating represents a novel approach to obesity
prevention, and these interventions are easily implemented and scalable.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982386
- **Project number:** 5R01HD087082-05
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO
- **Principal Investigator:** Leonard H Epstein
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $475,652
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982386

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982386, Enhancing alternatives to eating in infancy (5R01HD087082-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982386. Licensed CC0.

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