Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-45, male and female (females will have the study days arranged during the early phase of the menstrual cycle). * Body mass index (BMI): normal weight participants ≥ 19 and ≤ 25 Kg/m2, and obese participants \> 30 Kg/m2 * Able to give voluntary written informed consent to participate in the study * Able to understand the requirements of the study * Apparently healthy: no medical conditions which might affect study measurements (judged by health questionnaire, and blood screening) Exclusion Criteria: * Any reported history of neurological or gastrointestinal disorders * Any reported history of surgery that could affect gastrointestinal function (e.g. colectomy, small bowel resection) * Abnormal screening procedures including depression and eat restriction * Laboratory results that are clinically significant, including diabetes, dyslipidemia, pancreatitis, or untreated hypertension. * Contraindications for MRI scanning i.e. metallic implants, pacemakers, history of metallic foreign body in eye(s) and penetrating eye injury, assessed by standard MRI safety questionnaire. * Under medication (expect aspirin/paracetamol), antibiotic or prescribed probiotic treatment in the past 12 weeks. * Following a medically- or self-prescribed diet during the two weeks prior to the pre-study examination and until the end of the study. * Reported weight loss or gain ≥ 10 % of bodyweight during the six months period before the pre-study examination * Pregnancy or breastfeeding declared by candidate * Smoking * Left-handed assessed by handedness questionnaire. This is to control for brain's lateralisation effects (activation in one side of the brain) that may show variations between left and right handed participants. * Participation in another clinical or research study within the previous 3 months of the study * Cannot lie flat or exceeding the scanner bed weight limit of 250 kg. * Poor understanding of the spoken and/or written English language