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Ultra Crave: Investigating Ultra-Processed Food and Food Addiction

This study, called "Ultra Crave," is looking into how reducing ultra-processed (UP) foods affects people with food addiction. Researchers want to see if cutting back on these foods causes withdrawal symptoms, increases cravings for them, and if these factors make it harder to stick to a low-UP diet. You might be eligible if you are between 22 and 60 years old, speak English, own a smartphone, live within an hour of the lab, and show signs of food addiction. The study will measure withdrawal symptoms, cravings for UP foods, and how much low-UP food you eat during a one-week dietary intervention period. The study's current status is unclear, and it aims to enroll 210 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study with no specified phase, planning to enroll 210 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a group receiving provided low-UP meals, a group following a self-guided low-UP diet, or a control group eating as they normally do.
What's involved
You would complete three in-lab visits and participate in remote data collection for two weeks, including daily tasks, glucose monitoring, activity tracking, and dietary recall interviews. The total commitment is about 14 days, but this can vary.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary outcomes, such as withdrawal symptoms and cravings, are assessed during the one-week dietary intervention period.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06044285

Ultra Crave: An Investigation of Ultra-Processed Food

Recruiting
NAAges 22–60InterventionalBasic science
University of Michigan
~210 participants
Updated 2026-05-19 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Low UP (meals provided)Low UP (self-guided)Active Control

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Withdrawal Symptoms
Measured over Assessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Food Addiction

Explore related trials

Food Addiction

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Michigan1

Who to contact

Ashley Gearhardt, PhD
[email protected]
734-647-3920
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

22 to 60 years of age
English-speaking
Must own an Android or iPhone Smartphone
Live within a 1-hour radius of the laboratory
endorsement of \> 4 symptoms on the YFAS 2.0 completed during eligibility screener; at the time of consent, symptom count must remain above threshold for food addiction (this discrepany is based on a previously found tendency during pilot testing to overestimate food addiction symptoms at the time of screening)
Willing and able to follow specific dietary instructions provided by the study team
Willing and able to attend 3 in-person lab visits
Willing to complete 4 phone interviews about foods eaten in the past 24 hours
Willing to report daily intake of food
Like the taste of chocolate milkshake (for fMRI scan eligibility only).

Exclusion

participants with a self-reported BMI \< 18.5 and \> 40
Current diagnosis of disorder that may impact study results or the ability to safely complete study tasks (hypothyroidism (uncontrolled by medication), diabetes, etc.)
History of food allergies
Unable to respond to brief questionnaires within 90-minutes during the day
Work night shifts or irregular shifts
Restrictive dietary requirements (e.g., vegan) or high levels of picky eating
Medications (e.g., insulin, antipsychotic medications) that may impact study results or safe completion of study tasks
Diagnosis of severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
Diagnosis of a restrictive eating disorder (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, purging disorder) within the last 5 years
Current diagnoses of disorders that can impact reward/metabolic functioning
20+ pound weight fluctuation in the last 3-months
Prior weight loss surgery (e.g., bariatric surgery)
Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or within 6-months of having given birth
High levels or high-risk intake of alcohol or caffeine
Use of tobacco or nicotine in the past month
Use of THC cannabis within the past week
Unwillingness to abstain from THC cannabis, tobacco or nicotine during the main portion of the study (\~22 days)
fMRI contraindications (e.g., claustrophobia, metal implants).
inability to complete a random report within 90 minutes

What this trial measures

  • Withdrawal SymptomsAssessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

    Withdrawal symptoms (e.g., anger, anxiety) will be assessed using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely); higher scores indicate greater withdrawal symptoms.

  • Craving of ultra-processed (UP) foodsAssessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

    Craving of UP foods will be assessed using EMA on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely); higher scores indicate greater craving of UP foods.

  • Low UP food intakeAssessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

    Intake of low UP foods will be assessed using two 24 hour dietary recall interviews.

  • Self-Reported Low UP food intakeAssessed during dietary intervention period for 1 week

    Intake of low UP foods will be assessed using EMA reports of food intake. Responses will be coded into high and low UP food intake based on the NOVA classification.