Weighted Blanket to Treat Anxiety Related to Trying New Foods the Pediatric Population

Launched by THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH, GALVESTON · May 16, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring whether using a weighted blanket can help children aged 8 to 12 with anxiety related to trying new foods. Many kids struggle with what to eat, leading to conditions like picky eating and food neophobia, which is the fear of new foods. The researchers want to see if a weighted blanket, which provides gentle pressure and can be calming, helps reduce anxiety when these children face mealtime challenges.

To participate, children must weigh at least 30 pounds, have feeding challenges, and experience anxiety about food as reported by a parent or caregiver. They will need to be able to read well enough to complete some questionnaires. The study is currently looking for participants, and families who join can expect to try using a weighted blanket during mealtime situations. It's important to note that children with certain medical conditions or who are already part of another research study won't be eligible to participate. This study aims to provide useful insights into a new way to support kids with these common food-related anxieties.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Subject and guardian has provided informed consent in a manner approved by the IRB and is willing and able to comply with the trial procedures.
• • 2. Subject has identified feeding challenges
• • 3. Subject has anxiety related to food as reported by caregiver
• • 4. Subject is between the ages of 8-12
• • 5. Subject has good reading abilities
• • 6. Subject weighs 30 pounds or more
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the subject at increased risk for participation due to the inability to remove the blanket safely. Examples of diagnoses that would exclude a participant include spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy.
• • 2. Concurrent participation on another research study
• • 3. Participants outside of the ages 8-12
• • 4. Participants refuse to use the weighted blanket
• • 5. If the use of a weighted blanket is contraindicated for any reason
• • 6. Participants lacking the reading ability to complete a questionnaire
• • 7. Participants who weigh under 30 pounds per parent report and cannot use a commercially available weighted blanket as the minimum weight of a weighted blanket is 3 pounds will be excluded but this exclusion is unlikely due to the inclusion age range