The changing food environment, with increasingly abundant ultra-processed food (UPF) options, may directly contribute to rising rates of obesity, though it is unknown which ingredients in UPF elevate their reinforcing nature in a way that may lead to overconsumption. The proposed study is the first to systematically examine differences in the rewarding characteristics of and physiological and metabolic responses to UPFs that are high in fat, refined carbohydrates (like sugar), or both. Understanding the biobehavioral underpinnings that enhance the reinforcing potential of ingredients in UPF (e.g., fat vs. refined carbohydrates) can inform novel intervention targets for the treatment of overeating and obesity.
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Subjective reward responses to food intake (in lab)
Timeframe: 10 minutes before intake of test snack, during, and 30-, 60-, 90-, and 120 minutes after intake of the test snack.
Subjective reward responses to food intake (EMA)
Timeframe: EMA surveys administered over 5 days following each food consumption assessment (20 total days of EMA data)
Ad libitum consumption
Timeframe: 2 hours after test snack intake at each food consumption assessment.
Daily calorie intake (EMA)
Timeframe: EMA surveys administered over 5 days following each food consumption assessment (20 total days of EMA data)
Consumption of UPFs and MPFs (EMA)
Timeframe: EMA surveys administered over 5 days following each food consumption assessment (20 total days of EMA data)