Stress may drive unhealthy eating in Food-Insecure adults
NCT ID NCT05191030
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study looked at how stress influences food choices in 453 adults with varying levels of food insecurity. Participants were exposed to a stressful situation and then offered a buffet of high-calorie, sugary, and fatty foods. Researchers measured how much they ate and whether the stress hormone cortisol played a role. The goal is to understand the link between food insecurity, stress, and poor diet.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could help explain why food insecurity is linked to poor diet and metabolic problems, pointing toward better support strategies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It measures responses in a lab setting, which may not reflect real-world behavior. Results are exploratory and may not lead to direct changes.
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
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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453 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2022
- Finished
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Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: * Age 18+ * English-speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Recent (\<1 year) diagnosis of major psychiatric disorders including any mood disorder, schizophrenia, or PTSD * Recent (\<1 year) diagnosis of eating disorder * Recent (\<1 year) diagnosis of metabolic or endocrine disorder or steroid or hormonal contraceptive use * Pregnancy * Allergy to any of the foods in the food buffet * Participation in strict dieting or caloric restriction
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
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