Can Ultra-Processed foods make you eat more? a study investigates

NCT ID NCT05290064

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study aims to understand how ultra-processed foods affect energy metabolism compared to unprocessed foods. Healthy adults aged 18-60 will stay at a research center for four weeks, eating different diets each week. Researchers will measure how much they eat, their metabolic rate, and other health markers to see if food processing influences calorie intake and energy use.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Diets varying in processing level, energy density, and hyperpalatability
What this could lead to: If successful, this could clarify how food processing influences overeating and metabolism, potentially guiding dietary recommendations for obesity prevention.
What could go wrong: The trial is small and short-term, so findings may not apply broadly. Individual responses to diets can vary, and results may not reflect long-term effects.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Body Weight Obesity obesity disorder platelet-type bleeding disorder 10

As listed by the trial registrant

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

HEALTHY DIET OBESITY

Contacts and locations

Locations

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

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