RECRUITING

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

Conditions

Obesity Overeating Food Addiction Ultra-processed foods Food reward

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Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

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.

Official Title

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

Quick Facts

Study Start:2023-02-20

Study Completion:2027-03-31

Study Type:Not specified

Phase:Not Applicable

Enrollment:Not specified

Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT05437809

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.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No

Standard Ages:ADULT, OLDER_ADULT

Inclusion Criteria	Exclusion 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

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion 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

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Erica M. LaFata, Ph.D.

CONTACT

9136535022

es3344@drexel.edu

Study Locations (Sites)

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104

United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: Drexel University

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2023-02-20

Study Completion Date2027-03-31

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2023-02-20

Study Completion Date2027-03-31

Terms related to this study

Keywords Provided by Researchers

Ultra-processed foods
Food reward

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Obesity
Overeating
Food Addiction