Status:

RECRUITING

Biobehavioral Reward Responses Associated With Consumption of Nutritionally Diverse Ultra-Processed Foods

Lead Sponsor:

Drexel University

Conditions:

Obesity

Overeating

Eligibility:

All Genders

18-65 years

Phase:

NA

Brief Summary

The changing food environment, with increasingly abundant ultra-processed food (UPF) options, may directly contribute to rising rates of obesity, though it is unknown which ingredients in UPF elevate ...

Detailed Description

The abundance of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in our environment has led to excessive calorie intake and been cited as perpetuating the obesity epidemic. UPFs do not exist in nature and are created to...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • 18 to 65 years old
  • BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2
  • Endorse liking the test snack foods at a 6 on a 1-10 scale
  • Live in the greater Philadelphia area and are willing/able to participate in six in-person assessments
  • Can access and are willing/able to use a smartphone
  • Able to give consent

Exclusion

  • Unable to fluently speak, write, and read English
  • BMI below 30 kg/m2
  • Self-report dietary allergies or aversions to the test snack foods
  • Current diagnosis of type 1 or 2 diabetes (HbA1c \> 6.5; will be confirmed by blood test at baseline) or self-reported diagnosis of hypertension
  • Self-report a cardiovascular event (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction) in the last 12 months
  • Self-report current use of medications that may influence the metabolic responses of interest or inhibit appetite (e.g., metformin, liraglutide)
  • Self-report a loss of ≥ 5% of their body weight in the last 6 months, as this may influence their food choices
  • Self-report severe symptoms of mood (Beck Depression Inventory score ≥ 29), anxiety, and any severity of thought disorders
  • Self-report severe binge eating disorder or full criteria bulimia nervosa
  • Self-report active substance-use disorders
  • Self-report current, active suicidal ideation, and/or a suicide attempt in the past year (will be referred to psychiatric treatment facilities in the greater Philadelphia area)
  • Self-report a history of bariatric surgery
  • Self-report current involvement in weight loss treatment or self-directed weight loss attempt
  • Women who are nursing, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant in the next 3 months
  • Does not have access or are not willing to use a smartphone

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

February 20 2023

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ESTIMATED

End Date :

March 31 2027

Estimated Enrollment :

50 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT05437809

Start Date

February 20 2023

End Date

March 31 2027

Last Update

May 6 2025

Active Locations (1)

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1

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104