Location: Healthy Body Weight Research
Project Number: 3062-10700-003-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Oct 1, 2024
End Date: Sep 30, 2029
Objective:
Objective 1: Evaluate diets composed primarily of ultra-processed or less processed foods that meet dietary guidelines recommendations on chronic disease risk factors. [NP107, C3, PS3A; C4, PS4B]
Sub-objective 1.A: Develop study menus that align with DGA recommendations and have most of their energy coming from foods with different degrees of processing (e.g., one menu will have >80% kcal from UPFs and the other menu will have >80% kcal from less processed foods).
Sub-objective 1.B: Determine whether a DGA diet comprised of primarily UPFs will impact the following markers of chronic disease compared to a DGA diet comprised of less processed foods:
• blood pressure
• fasting glucose and insulin concentrations
• lipid panel (total, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides)
Objective 2: Determine the relationships among dietary intake, physical activity, and behavior motivation. [NP107, C3, PS3A; C4, PS4B]
Sub-objective 2.A: Determine whether daily consumption of ultra-processed fruits increases RRV (produces incentive sensitization) of low-processed fruits or ultra-processed fruits.
Objective 3: Determine consumption patterns of ultra-processed foods, consumer perception and understanding of food processing, and influences of processing on consumer decisions. [NP107, C1, PS1B; C3, PS3A and PS3B]
Sub-objective 3.A: Conduct a survey study across a nationally representative cross-section of the U.S. adult population to assess attitudes towards, understanding of, and consumption of UPF (as defined by NOVA).
Approach:
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) are based on scientific evidence and are intended to promote health and prevent nutrition-related diseases. However, most Americans do not meet DGA recommendations in part because doing so requires long-term adherence to behavior change. Behavioral choice theory posits that engaging in a behavior is dependent on barriers to engage in the behavior relative to the reinforcing value of the behavior. If a healthy behavior requires much work and has a low reinforcing value, people will not engage in it.
One topic for consideration in the 2025-2030 DGA is the impact of “degrees” of food processing on health outcomes. “Ultra-processed” foods (UPF) provide convenience and reduce barriers to consumption. While cross-sectional research posits that UPF are detrimental to health, many UPF are nutrient-dense. Uncertainty among the research community regarding definitions of UPF is well-documented; however, consumer definitions of, perceptions of, and attitudes towards UPF have not been extensively evaluated.
Nutrient-dense UPF could promote health to the same extent as less-processed foods and reduce barriers for healthy food consumption. Repeated consumption of nutrient-dense UPF may increase the reinforcing value of nutrient-dense UPF and other nutrient-dense foods, regardless of their level of processing, resulting in greater diet quality and reduced chronic disease risk. To date, there is little empirical data on the effects of food processing on either behavioral choice or chronic disease markers. We propose that, when matched for diet quality, micronutrient content, and food type, a more- versus less-processed healthy eating pattern will not differ in impact on biochemical indicators of chronic disease.
The results of this project will help inform dietary guidance, thereby helping clinicians, public health professionals, and policymakers to improve the health of Americans.
