Withdrawal from ultra-processed foods
A Biopsychobehavioral Investigation of Withdrawal from Ultra-Processed Food in Humans
This project looks at whether people who cut back on ultra-processed foods experience withdrawal symptoms and stronger cravings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11119006 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you regularly eat a lot of packaged, industrially produced foods, researchers will ask some participants to reduce or stop those foods and will track changes over time. They will record physical, thinking, and mood symptoms and test how much food-related cues (like images or smells) grab attention during abstinence. The work builds on animal findings by using human participants to see if withdrawal-like responses occur and whether those responses make it harder to keep eating fewer ultra-processed foods. Findings will be used to design better supports for people trying to change their diets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who regularly consume high amounts of ultra-processed foods and are willing to try reducing those foods under study conditions.
Not a fit: People who already avoid ultra-processed foods, or whose diets must be medically restricted, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If true, this could explain why cutting ultra-processed foods is hard and lead to new supports or treatments to help people stick with healthier diets.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown withdrawal-like effects from ultra-processed diets, but human evidence is limited, so this approach is relatively new in people.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gearhardt, Ashley Nicole — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Gearhardt, Ashley Nicole
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.