Fight the food industry to lose weight? new study tests unusual approach

NCT ID NCT07226336

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Oct 16, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests two 2-month programs to help adults with overweight or obesity cut down on ultra-processed foods. One program uses standard diet tips like meal planning, while the other uses a 'dissonance' approach where participants take part in activism against the food industry. The goal is to see if fighting back against junk food makers can make it easier to eat healthier.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
behavioural intervention (educational workshop, dietary change strategies, and cognitive dissonance activism)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward a new, low-cost way to help people eat less ultra-processed food and improve weight management.
What could go wrong
This is a small early-phase trial with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The approach is novel and unproven, and it relies on self-reported dietary data.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2

Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.

Participants

59 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Feb 2026

Finished

Jul 2026

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 70 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 18-70 years old * BMI \>25 and \<50 kg/m2 * Wish to reduce their UPF intake * Consume at least 2 UPF items per day and at least 4 distinct UPF items per week Exclusion Criteria: * Have ever been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa * Are using medications known to influence eating behavior and/or weight (e.g., semaglutide) * Currently using insulin * History of bariatric surgery * Current pregnancy or planning to become pregnant during the study period

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Obesity obesity disorder Overweight

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Oregon Research Institute

    Springfield, Oregon, 97477, United States

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