Fight the food industry to lose weight? new study tests unusual approach
NCT ID NCT07226336
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
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
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Feb 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2026
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 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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: * 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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
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