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Changes in Ultra-Processed Food Intake During a Single-Arm Behavioral Weight Management Intervention: A Secondary
Kate E Worwag1, Armaan Shetty1, Meena N Shankar1
1Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|July 14, 2026
Summary
Reducing ultra-processed food (UPF) intake during behavioral weight-loss interventions (BWLIs) was associated with greater weight loss. These findings suggest UPF reduction may be a key target for improving weight management outcomes in BWLIs.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Obesity Research
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is linked to obesity and related diseases.
- The role of UPFs in behavioral weight-loss interventions (BWLIs) remains understudied.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding UPF dynamics during BWLIs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in UPF intake during a 16-week BWLI.
- To determine the association between UPF intake changes and weight-loss outcomes.
- To explore if UPF reduction impacts weight loss independently of overall caloric intake.
Main Methods:
- 449 adults with obesity participated in a 16-week BWLI.
- Dietary intake, including UPF proportion, was assessed using the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24).
- Changes in caloric intake, UPF intake, and body weight were analyzed, along with their associations.
Main Results:
- Participants reduced calorie intake, UPF intake, and body weight during the BWLI (p < 0.001).
- Greater reductions in UPF intake correlated with greater decreases in caloric intake and body weight.
- The association between UPF reduction and weight loss remained significant even after adjusting for caloric intake changes (p = 0.005), though effect sizes were small.
Conclusions:
- UPF intake decreased during the BWLI, and this reduction was linked to improved weight loss.
- The findings suggest that targeting UPF reduction may be beneficial for weight management within BWLIs.
- Further research is recommended to confirm the efficacy of targeting UPFs in BWLIs due to small effect sizes.
