Ultra-processed Food Consumption and Health Pilot Study

This study is looking at how two different diets affect your health, specifically if you are overweight or have obesity. You would be assigned to follow either the "Purple Diet," which is like a typical American diet, or an "Ultra-processed diet," where about 75% of the food is ultra-processed. The main goal is to see if it's possible to run a larger study like this and to understand the effects of these diets on your body weight and other health measures. We are looking for 6 adults, aged 18 to 50, who are overweight or have obesity. Your body weight will be measured after 14 days on each diet. The current status of the study is unclear.

Study design: This is an interventional study with 6 participants, where you would try both diets in a randomized order. It is a pilot study to help plan a larger trial.
What's involved: You would follow each diet for 14 days, with at least a 14-day break in between. All meals and snacks will be provided by the study kitchen.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Your body weight will be measured after 14 days on each diet.

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

Ultra-processed Food Consumption and Health Pilot Study

Active, Not Recruiting

NAAges 18–50InterventionalPrevention

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

~6 participants

Updated 2026-06-29 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Purple DietUltra-processed diet

At a glance

Recruiting sites

0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Body weight

Measured over Change from baseline to 14 days

Conditions

Obesity & Overweight

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Louisiana1

Study leadership

Peter T Katzmarzyk, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Overweight or obesity (BMI 25-50 kg/m2)

Willingness to accept group assignment and provide outcome measures

Premenopausal (women only)

Be able to communicate (oral and written) in English

Be able to provide informed consent

Exclusion

Recent weight loss (≥10 pounds in the last six months)

On a regimen of medications (weight loss or otherwise) that can affect weight or diabetes outcomes for less than 3 months (GLP1 medications allowed if weight stable and on stable dose for \>=3 months)

Given birth within the past year or is currently pregnant or breastfeeding

Past bariatric surgery (\<10 years) - all types

Disease/condition that is life threatening or can interfere with or be aggravated by weight change

Dementia, psychiatric illness, or substance abuse that may interfere with adherence

Current or history of a clinically diagnosed eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa

Type 1 or type 2 diabetes

Uncontrolled gastrointestinal disorders including chronic malabsorptive conditions, peptic ulcer disease, Crohn's disease, chronic diarrhea or active gallbladder disease

Current cancer or cancer treatment, or a history of cancer or cancer treatment within the last 3 years. Exceptions include 1) successfully resected non-melanoma carcinoma of the skin, 2) basal or squamous cell skin cancer, 3) stage 0 non-invasive carcinoma of the cervix, 4) stage 0 non-invasive prostate cancer

History of kidney or liver disease or malnutrition that in investigator judgment should exclude participation

Hemoglobinopathy that interferes with measurement of HbA1c

Class II or higher congestive heart failure

Unstable heart disease

Blood pressure ≥160/100 mm Hg

Thyroid disease for which the participant is untreated or has had treatment changed within the last 6 weeks.

Unwilling to stop alcohol intake during study participation

Current smoker or other type of tobacco user (chewing tobacco, vaping, etc.)

Any other condition or factor which in the opinion of the study physician or investigator makes it inadvisable for the candidate to participate in the trial

What this trial measures

Body weightChange from baseline to 14 days
Body weight measured in kg

Trialytics