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Ultra Crave: una investigación sobre alimentos ultraprocesados

21 de septiembre de 2026 actualizado por: Ashley Gearhardt, University of Michigan

Ultra Crave: una investigación biopsicoconductual de la abstinencia de alimentos ultraprocesados ​​en humanos

This study experimentally investigates whether a reduction in ultra-processed (UP) food intake (1) causes aversive withdrawal symptoms in humans, (2) increases the motivational salience of UP food cues and, if so, (3) whether these factors undermine the ability to adhere to a low-UP diet. The following aims and hypotheses are tested:

Aim 1: To investigate whether aversive physical, cognitive, and affective withdrawal symptoms emerge in response to reduced UP food intake compared to a high-UP diet, and whether this predicts failure to adhere to a low-UP diet.

H1a: Reducing UP food intake will result in aversive physical, cognitive, and affective withdrawal symptoms, as indicated by 1) ecological momentary assessment (EMA) reports of aversive withdrawal symptoms, and 2) heart rate reactivity and subjective distress to an in-lab stressor.

H1b: Aversive symptoms of UP food withdrawal will predict greater UP food intake and higher blood glucose levels when trying to adhere to a low UP diet.

Aim 2: To investigate whether increased motivational salience of UP food cues emerges in response to reduced UP food intake, and whether this predicts failure to maintain a low-UP diet.

H2a: Reducing UP food intake will result in increased motivational salience of UP food cues, as indicated by 1) EMA reports of UP food craving, 2) heart rate reactivity and subjective craving in a simulated fast-food restaurant, 3) heightened reinforcement value for UP food relative to other reinforcers, and 4) greater reward-related neural response to UP food cues.

H2b: Increased motivational salience of UP food cues will predict greater UP food intake and higher blood glucose levels when trying to adhere to a low UP diet.

Descripción general del estudio

Descripción detallada

The study will include a combination of in-person, at-home, and virtual activities over the course of ~14 days (contingent on scheduling, this duration may vary and particularly between in-person visits #1 and #2). Participants complete three in-lab visits. Visit 1 and 2 will each followed by a week of remote data tasks (e.g., EMA, continuous glucose monitoring, physical activity and sleep tracking (Fitbit), and two 24-hour dietary recall interviews).

During in-lab visit #1, participants will complete questionnaires, behavioral tasks, and interviews, and will have body composition measurements taken (height, weight, Inbody scan). Participants will complete the remote tasks for the following week while eating their typical diet (i.e., baseline period).

During in-lab visit #2, participants will complete questionnaires, interviews, and body composition measurements (height, weight, Inbody scan). Participants are randomly assigned to one of three conditions--control (i.e., high UP), self-guided low UP, or meals provided low UP--and will follow instructions about how to eat consistent with their condition during week 2 of remote data collection (i.e., dietary intervention period).

During in-lab visit #3, participants will complete questionnaires, behavioral tasks, body composition measurements (height, weight, InBody scan), and an fMRI scan.

Participants are contacted 1- and 3-months later to complete a short follow-up survey and provide information about their current diet.

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Estimado)

210

Fase

  • No aplica

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

  • Nombre: Ashley Gearhardt, PhD
  • Número de teléfono: 734-647-3920
  • Correo electrónico: agearhar@umich.edu

Ubicaciones de estudio

    • Michigan
      • Ann Arbor, Michigan, Estados Unidos, 48109
        • Reclutamiento
        • University of Michigan
        • Contacto:
          • Ashley Gearhardt, PhD
          • Número de teléfono: 734-647-3920
          • Correo electrónico: agearhar@umich.edu

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

22 años a 60 años (Adulto)

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

No

Géneros elegibles para el estudio

Todos

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 22 to 60 years of age
  • English-speaking
  • Must own an Android or iPhone Smartphone
  • Able and willing to commute to the laboratory
  • endorsement of ≥ 4 symptoms on the YFAS 2.0 completed during eligibility screener; at the time of consent, symptom count must remain above threshold for food addiction (this discrepany is based on a previously found tendency during pilot testing to overestimate food addiction symptoms at the time of screening)
  • Willing and able to follow specific dietary instructions provided by the study team
  • Willing and able to attend 3 in-person lab visits
  • Willing to complete 4 phone interviews about foods eaten in the past 24 hours
  • Willing to report daily intake of food
  • Like the taste of chocolate milkshake (for fMRI scan eligibility only).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • participants with a self-reported BMI < 18.5
  • Current diagnosis of disorder that may impact study results or the ability to safely complete study tasks (hypothyroidism (uncontrolled by medication), diabetes, etc.)
  • History of food allergies
  • Unable to respond to brief questionnaires within 90-minutes during the day
  • Work night shifts or irregular shifts
  • Restrictive dietary requirements (e.g., vegan) or high levels of picky eating
  • Medications (e.g., insulin, antipsychotic medications) that may impact study results or safe completion of study tasks
  • Diagnosis of severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
  • Diagnosis of a restrictive eating disorder (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, purging disorder) within the last 5 years
  • Current diagnoses of disorders that can impact reward/metabolic functioning
  • 20+ pound weight fluctuation in the last 3-months
  • Prior weight loss surgery (e.g., bariatric surgery)
  • Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or within 6-months of having given birth
  • High levels or high-risk intake of alcohol or caffeine
  • Use of tobacco or nicotine in the past month
  • Use of THC cannabis within the past week
  • Unwillingness to abstain from THC cannabis, tobacco or nicotine during the main portion of the study (~22 days)
  • fMRI contraindications (e.g., claustrophobia, metal implants, BMI >40, etc; Note: this is an fMRI-specific exclusion criterion. participants may be allowed to participate in all other study measures that do not involve fMRI).
  • inability to complete a random report within 90 minutes

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Ciencia básica
  • Asignación: Aleatorizado
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
  • Enmascaramiento: Doble

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Experimental: Self-Guided Low UP Food Diet

Participants asked to eat a low UP food diet according to study provided nutritional guidance.

Visit 1 and the following week comprise the baseline assessment period.

Visit 2 and the following week comprise the dietary intervention period. Participants are asked to eat a low UP diet according to study provided nutritional guidance.

Visit 3 assesses post-dietary intervention outcomes. All participants will complete remote assessments at 1 month and 3 month follow-up.

Experimental: Meals Provided Low UP Food Diet

.Participants asked to eat a low UP food diet provided by the study team.

This study incorporates within- and between-subject comparisons. All participants complete a series of three in-lab visits with remote data collection:

Visit 1 and the following week comprise the baseline assessment period.

Visit 2 and the following week comprise the dietary intervention period. Food is provided by the study team for 7 days in accordance with a low UP diet.

Visit 3 assesses post-dietary intervention outcomes. All participants will complete remote assessments at 1 month and 3 month follow-up.

Comparador activo: Control

Participants asked to eat as they usually do.

Visit 1 and the following week comprise the baseline assessment period.

Visit 2 and the following week comprise the dietary intervention period. Participants are asked to eat as they normally do.

Visit 3 assesses post-dietary intervention outcomes. All participants will complete remote assessments at 1 month and 3 month follow-up.

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Withdrawal Symptoms
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

Withdrawal symptoms (e.g., anger, anxiety) will be assessed using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely); higher scores indicate greater withdrawal symptoms.

Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week
Craving of ultra-processed (UP) foods
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

Craving of UP foods will be assessed using EMA on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely); higher scores indicate greater craving of UP foods.

Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week
Low UP food intake
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

Intake of low UP foods will be assessed using two 24 hour dietary recall interviews.

Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week
Self-Reported Low UP food intake
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

Intake of low UP foods will be assessed using EMA reports of food intake. Responses will be coded into high and low UP food intake based on the NOVA classification.

Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Reactivity to a stressor
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)

Stress reactivity will be assessed using an in-lab stress task that has participants listen to an audio recording of a current stressor in their life. Participants' heart rate in response to the audio recording, relative to a baseline measurement, will be used as an indicator of stress reactivity; an increase in heart rate will be indicative of greater stress reactivity.

Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)
Self-reported reactivity to a stressor
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)

Stress reactivity will be assessed using an in-lab stress task that has participants listen to an audio recording of a current stressor in their life. Participants' subjective ratings of reactivity will be assessed at baseline (prior to listening to the audio recording) and immediately after listening to the audio recording using the negative affect subscale from the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS); each item is rated on a 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely) scale, with higher numbers indicating greater experienced affect; an increase in score, relative to baseline, will indicate greater stress reactivity.

Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)
Cue reactivity to a simulated fast food restaurant
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)

Participants will spend 5 minutes in a simulated fast food restaurant. Participants' heart rate in response to the simulated fast food restaurant, relative to a baseline measurement, will be used as an indicator of cue reactivity; increases in will be indicative of greater cue reactivity.

Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)
Self-reported cue reactivity to a simulated fast food restaurant
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)

Participants will spend 5 minutes in a simulated fast food restaurant. Participants' subjective craving will be assessed at baseline (prior to entering the restaurant) and while in the restaurant on a scale from 0 (no craving at all) to 100 (I have never craved food more), with greater numbers indicating higher craving; an increase in score, relative to baseline, will indicate greater cue reactivity.

Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)
Level of reinforcement value for ultra processed foods
Periodo de tiempo: Baseline assessed during in-lab Visit 1 (1 day); assessed again post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)

Participants will complete a computerized task that measures their willingness to work (i.e., reinforcement value) for a UP food gift card relative to a non-food gift card.

Baseline assessed during in-lab Visit 1 (1 day); assessed again post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)
Magnitude of neural reward-related response to tasting a milkshake
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)

Participants will complete an fMRI paradigm where they see a UP food cue (i.e., picture of a chocolate milkshake) that predict receipt of a UP food (i.e., a chocolate milkshake). The paradigm also includes a control cue (i.e., picture of a water glass) that predicts receipt of a tasteless solution (which contains the ionic components of saliva; 25 mM KCl and 2.5 mM NaHCO3 in distilled water). Participants' activation in neural regions associated with reward (e.g., mOFC, striatum) to the milkshake cue (relative to the water cue) will be used as a measure of increased reward-related response to UP food cues.

Assessed post-dietary intervention during in-lab Visit 3 (1 day)
Blood Glucose Level
Periodo de tiempo: Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

Assessed using a continuous blood glucose monitor.

Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Actual)

5 de agosto de 2023

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

5 de agosto de 2028

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

5 de agosto de 2028

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

11 de agosto de 2023

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

12 de septiembre de 2023

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

21 de septiembre de 2023

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

24 de septiembre de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

21 de septiembre de 2026

Última verificación

1 de septiembre de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Otros números de identificación del estudio

  • HUM00226716
  • 1R01DA055027-01A1 (Subvención/contrato del NIH de EE. UU.)

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

SÍ

Descripción del plan IPD

This research will generate demographic, neural, heart rate, ecological momentary assessment, continuous glucose monitoring, self-report and anthropometric data. The data will be stored as SPSS or SAS files. Meta data will also be included in the selected repositories. The metadata will include the data dictionaries, which describe the generation of all variables. The deidentified data will be made available within one year of completion of the study at the University of Michigan's data repository - Deep Blue.

Marco de tiempo para compartir IPD

Beginning 1 year and ending 7 years following article publication

Criterios de acceso compartido de IPD

Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal will be able to access data to achieve aims outlined in the approved proposal. Proposals should be directed to agearhar@umich.edu to gain access. Data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .

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