NCT05437809

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

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Oregon Research Institute · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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 their reinforcing nature in a way that may lead to overconsumption. The proposed study is the first to systematically examine differences in the rewarding characteristics of and physiological and metabolic responses to UPFs that are high in fat, refined carbohydrates (like sugar), or both. Understanding the biobehavioral underpinnings that enhance the reinforcing potential of ingredients in UPF (e.g., fat vs. refined carbohydrates) can inform novel intervention targets for the treatment of overeating and obesity.

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 maximize palatability through the additions of fat, refined carbohydrates (RC), and/or sodium (e.g., chocolate, potato chips). Emerging research suggests UPFs may be reinforcing akin to rewarding substances like alcohol. However, empirical investigation of which ingredients in UPFs directly motivate overeating is in its nascent stages. This study will be the first to combine biological and behavioral methods used in addiction research with assessments of food reward, to delineate the mechanisms by which fat and RC drive UPF reinforcement and influence future consumption. Individuals (n=50) with obesity will be recruited for the current study. Participants will attend four appointments (order randomized/counterbalanced) and will consume a snack consisting of 1) UPF high in fat + RC (UPF+FRC), 2) UPF high in fat (UPF+F), 3) UPF high in RC (UPF+RC), or 4) minimally processed foods (MPF). At each assessment, subjective experiences and metabolic responses will be assessed before and up to 120 minutes after consumption of each snack. An ad-libitum eating period for each food condition will follow to evaluate associations of metabolic/behavioral responses with subsequent intake. For five days after each appointment, participants will use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to assess subjective experiences and real-world reported consumption of UPF+FRC, UPF+F, UPF+RC, and MPF.

Conditions

• Obesity
• Overeating
• Food Addiction

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Intake of nutritionally diverse ultra-processed foods	All participants will attend four food consumption assessment visits where, at each visit, they will be asked to consume a standardized snack portion of: 1) ultra-processed foods (UPFs) high in both fat and refined carbohydrates (UPF+FRC), 2) UPF high in fat (UPF+F), 3) UPF high in refined carbohydrates (white flour, sugar) (UPF+RC), or 4) minimally processed foods. The order of the four food consumption assessment visits will be randomized and counterbalanced across participants, who will each consume all the test snacks across the four appointments.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-02-20
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2027-03-31
• First posted: 2022-06-29
• Last updated: 2026-02-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States