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

Description

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.

Conditions

ObesityOvereatingFood Addiction
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Related Conditions:

ObesityOvereatingFood Addiction

Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

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.

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

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

Condition
Obesity
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Philadelphia

Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * 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
  • * 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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Drexel University,

Study Record Dates

2027-03-31