Functional MRI of Stress in Obesity

Subjects will participate in an fMRI session to examine changes in frontal and limbic brain
regions with food cues, stress and neutral/relaxing imagery

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Between ages 18-50 years old.

2. Able to read and write.

3. negative urine toxicology screens during intake appointments indicating no history of
current or past dependence on alcohol or illicit drug use.

4. WOMEN: have a regular menstrual cycle.

5. BMI: 30 < BMI < 35 for obese subjects (upper limit of 35 selected given our experience
with heavier individuals fitting comfortably in the fMRI scanner) and 18.5 < BMI <25
for normal weight subjects (Institute, 2006)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. any major neurological illness or injury and any current or prior clinically
significant mental health (including PTSD) or substance use disorder (with exception
of nicotine dependence) as determined by SCID interview;

2. Regular use of any psychoactive drugs including anxiolytics and antidepressants.

3. Any significant current medical condition such as neurological, cardiovascular,
endocrine, renal, liver, thyroid pathology; subjects on medications for any medical
condition will be excluded.

4. Any subjects with foreign ferromagnetic metal objects in their body or other MR
contraindications will be excluded including subjects who work as welders.

5. Women on oral contraceptives, peri- and post-menopausal women, and pregnant or
lactating women (as alterations in stress response are associated with these states).