The current study experimentally investigates whether reducing highly processed (HP) foods (defined in this study as foods high in added sugars) leads to, psychological and / or behavioral indicators of withdrawal. The following hypotheses are tested: 1. To test the hypothesis that reducing highly processed food intake will result in higher daily reports of physical (e.g. headaches), cognitive (e.g. difficulty concentrating), and affective (e.g., irritability) withdrawal symptoms). 2. To test the hypothesis that reducing highly processed food intake will result in increased negative affect (e.g., irritability, depression) as indicated by and psychological (self - reported distress ratings; daily emotion / mood reports) measures. 3. To test the hypothesis that reducing highly processed food intake will result in increased food craving as indicated by psychological (self - report craving ratings; daily craving report) measures. All activities are completed remotely. Participants complete 4 phone appointments with a trained member of the research team. Daily questionnaires and ecological momentary assessments are completed at home between phone appointments. The initial call signs electronic consent and gets baseline measurements (questionnaires). After the initial call, participants start an active assessment period (pre / post dietary change assessments). Pre-dietary change includes at home questionnaires and ecological momentary assessments while eating a typical diet. It also includes the second phone appointment. Post-dietary change includes at home questionnaires and ecological momentary assessments while consuming 3 days of food portions lower in highly processed foods. Participants will complete a food journal on the remaining 2 days of post - dietary change assessment to report what food they ate. Post - dietary change also includes the third phone appointment. The second and third phone appointments each include computer tasks and questionnaires. The final phone appointment is a debriefing interview. Participants planning to continue eating a healthier diet may also be invited to complete a follow-up period, which involves answering a short questionnaire at home every other day for two weeks. 7 individuals had in-person data collected prior to the pandemic requiring a shift to virtual data collection.
Age range
25 Years – 40 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Increase in affective withdrawal symptoms during post-dietary change assessment using the Highly Processed Food Withdrawal Scale (PRoWS).
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Increase in negative affect during post-dietary change assessment using ecological momentary assessments (EMA).
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Increase in negative affect during post-dietary change assessment using Profile of Mood Scale (POMS).
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Increase in stress reactivity during post-dietary change using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) as an indicator of negative affect during a stress - exposure task.
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Increased propensity to experience food craving using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Increased propensity to experience food craving using the Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ - S).
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month
Increased propensity to experience food craving in response to a cue reactivity task using the Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ - S).
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month