Dietary Interventions to Reduce Ultra-Processed Food Intake

Summary

The DISRUPT clinical trial will test two different 2-month programs to help adults with overweight/obesity (N=60) reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive standard dietary change strategies, cognitive dissonance strategies that engage them in activism against the UPF industry, or both. All participants will attend an introductory educational workshop about UPFs. If they are assigned to receive one or more of these strategies, they will attend weekly group sessions with the relevant intervention content for 7 more weeks. Groups will be held virtually.

Conditions

• Ultra-Processed Food Intake
• Obesity & Overweight

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Introductory Educational Workshop

Participants will attend an introductory educational workshop held through videoconferencing software in week 1 of the program. The workshop will teach participants about ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their negative health effects.

BEHAVIORAL

Standard Dietary Change (ON/OFF)

Participants randomly assigned to have Standard Dietary Change Strategies ON will attend group sessions with a study coach, during which they will learn standard dietary change strategies such as meal planning, problem solving, and goal setting. Sessions will involve didactics, discussion, and interactive elements to promote greater participant engagement.

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Dissonance Strategies (ON/OFF)

Participants assigned to have the dissonance condition ON will attend weekly virtual group sessions with a coach, during which they will learn about the nefarious efforts of the food industry, including its creation of UPFs to be hyperpalatable and addictive, its predatory and deceptive marketing techniques, and its role in blocking policy change. Special emphasis will be placed on the food industry's exploitation of vulnerable, low-income communities by inundating these neighborhoods with cheap, ultra-rewarding products. Participants will be asked to engage in activities designed to elicit cognitive dissonance for consuming UPFs. Examples include writing letters to Congress urging policy change and creating "elevator pitches" for family and friends.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

  collaborator NIH

• Albert Einstein College of Medicine

  collaborator OTHER

• Oregon Research Institute

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Charlotte Hagerman, PhD · Oregon Research Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-28

Primary Completion

2026-08-31

Completion

2026-08-31