Effects of a new acute tDCS protocol on appetite and food craving in class I and II obese women.

• Grant number: 21/11300-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Vivian Marques Miguel Suen
• Grantee: Marina Rodrigues Giuliani
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This will be a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study designed to develop and test an ''acute'' protocol of shorter duration of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and evaluate its efficacy, safety and tolerability with the aiming to explore a new treatment option with easier adherence for the population with class I and II obesity. Study volunteers will be randomized to receive an intervention with active tDCS or sham (placebo). The study will consist in 3 phases: (1) Target engagement: a single tDCS session, (2) Intervention (''acute'' protocol tDCS + nutritional intervention): 5 days with 3 daily sessions of 20 minutes, with 20-minute rest between sessions, totaling 60 minutes of stimulation per day, along with nutritional education during the first interval between sessions and after the last session, and (3) Follow-up: monitoring of volunteers in the 1st, 3rd and 6th months after intervention. It is a free living study and the intervention will be carried out at the University Extension Cultural Space (ECEU) Ribeirão Preto only during one period of the day (morning or afternoon), from Monday to Friday. Since few treatment options are available and effective for this population, it will be evaluated whether this new protocol can help in the management of patients with class I and II obesity to reduce appetite, food craving, food intake and, consequently, weight loss and the maintenance of weight loss in long-term.