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Thesis
Exploring ultra-processed food addiction in adults seeking behavioral weight loss treatment
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Mar 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010875
Abstract
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), characterized by their industrially created ingredients and high levels of fats, refined starches, and additives, have been linked to obesity, chronic diseases, and mental health issues. Emerging evidence suggests that UPF consumption may have addictive-like qualities and 14% of adults meet the criteria for an UPF addiction "diagnosis." Notably, 97% of individuals seeking treatment for "UPF addiction" do so through weight loss programs. Preliminary evidence suggests that individuals with UPF addiction have poorer outcomes in gold standard evidence based weight loss programs like behavioral weight loss (BWL). The present study explores the relationship between UPF addiction, BWL outcomes at 6 months (percent weight loss, days of self-monitoring food intake), and psychosocial factors aiming to characterize UPF addiction within BWL treatment and identifying individual risk factors that may impact treatment success. Adults (N = 321) with overweight or obesity (BMI 27-50 kg/m²) underwent a 24-month BWL intervention with group sessions and one-on-one coaching. A secondary analysis was conducted using baseline and 6-month data from the larger trial. Hierarchical linear regressions assessed relationships between UPF addiction at baseline and 6 months with percent weight loss, valid food tracking days at 6 months, and psychosocial constructs. Results indicated that the sample had low UPF addiction symptom endorsement at baseline (M=1.25; SD=1.92), and 6 months (M=1.07; SD=1.81) and varied trajectories of UPF addiction "diagnosis" endorsement emerged over time. No relationship was found between UPF addiction and percent weight loss (ps>.22) or valid food tracking days at 6 months (ps>.79). Greater social support for dieting was associated with improvements in UPF addiction over the course of BWL, F(3, 214) = 8.23, p < .001. These findings highlight the importance of future research involving higher-risk samples to investigate the impact of UPF addiction on BWL treatment outcomes.
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Details
- Title
- Exploring ultra-processed food addiction in adults seeking behavioral weight loss treatment
- Creators
- Madison Leigh Corso
- Contributors
- Erica LaFata (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- 55 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022040072404721