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Scientists probe why junk food is so hard to resist
NCT ID NCT05437809
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study looks at how different types of ultra-processed foods—like those high in fat, sugar, or both—affect feelings of reward and overeating. Fifty adults with obesity will eat various snack foods in the lab and report their cravings and mood. The goal is to understand what makes these foods so tempting, which could help develop new treatments for overeating and obesity.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- ultra-processed foods (high fat, high refined carbohydrates, or both)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could identify which ingredients in ultra-processed foods drive overeating, leading to better strategies for treating obesity.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early observational study with only 50 participants, so findings may not apply broadly. It measures short-term responses, not long-term weight loss.
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
-
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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About 50 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Feb 2023
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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 to 65 years
- Sex
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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 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 Men and women Age 18-65 years BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 Endorse liking the foods included in the compulsory test snacks at a 6 on a scale from 1-10 No history of severe psychiatric illness; current mild to moderate severity of depression, anxiety, or binge eating disorder, determined by the behavioral evaluation and the screening measures will be included Live in the greater Springfield, Oregon area and are willing/able to participate in six in-person assessments Can access and are willing/able to use a smartphone Exclusion Criteria Medical condition that may limit consumption of compulsory test snack foods or impact metabolic responses to food consumption Type I or II diabetes (HbA1c \> 6.5 based on blood test) Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg) Cardiovascular event (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction) in the last 12 months Individuals with dietary allergies of aversions to the test snack foods Individuals taking medications that may influence the metabolic responses of interest (e.g., metformin) Individuals who are actively pursuing weight loss or have lost ≥ 5% of their initial weight in the last 6 months Severe symptoms of mood, anxiety, and any severity of thought disorders Severe binge eating disorder or full criteria bulimia Persons with active substance-use disorders Current, active suicidal ideation, and/or a suicide attempt within the past year History of bariatric surgery Women who are nursing, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant in the next three months Self-report current diagnosis of a transferrable blood condition (including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or syphilis) Self-report prior history of being dizzy or anxious during blood draws and/or technician not being able to find a vein.
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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
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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