Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up
The topic of ultra-processed food addiction has been the subject of many peer-reviewed publications. Although on average 14% of adults may meet the criteria for ultra-processed food addiction in prevalence studies, it is not a recognized clinical diagnosis, hence a lack of published evidence-based t...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1556988/full |
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| author | Jen Unwin Christine Delon Heidi Giæver Clarissa Kennedy Clarissa Kennedy Molly Painschab Molly Painschab Frida Sandin Charlotte Schon Poulsen David A. Wiss |
| author_facet | Jen Unwin Christine Delon Heidi Giæver Clarissa Kennedy Clarissa Kennedy Molly Painschab Molly Painschab Frida Sandin Charlotte Schon Poulsen David A. Wiss |
| author_sort | Jen Unwin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The topic of ultra-processed food addiction has been the subject of many peer-reviewed publications. Although on average 14% of adults may meet the criteria for ultra-processed food addiction in prevalence studies, it is not a recognized clinical diagnosis, hence a lack of published evidence-based treatment protocols and outcome data. In 2022, we reported outcomes pre- and post-intervention from an online, real food-based, low-carbohydrate educational program with psychosocial support related to ultra-processed food addiction recovery. The intervention was delivered across three locations, offering a common approach. The programs comprised weekly online sessions for 10–14 weeks, followed by monthly support groups. The previously published data were outcomes relating to ultra-processed food addiction symptoms measured by the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, ICD-10 symptoms of substance use disorder related to food (CRAVED), and mental well-being as measured by the short version of the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, pre- and post-intervention. The current report focuses on the same cohort’s 6- and 12-month follow-up data. The 12-month follow-up data show significant, sustained improvement in ultra-processed food addiction symptoms and mental well-being. These data are the first long-term follow-up results to be published for a food addiction program. Research is now needed to evaluate and compare other long-term interventions for this impairing and increasingly prevalent biopsychosocial condition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-75b42fff2d3b42dd9a2554d8aadfff5c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-75b42fff2d3b42dd9a2554d8aadfff5c2025-08-20T02:28:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-04-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15569881556988Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-upJen Unwin0Christine Delon1Heidi Giæver2Clarissa Kennedy3Clarissa Kennedy4Molly Painschab5Molly Painschab6Frida Sandin7Charlotte Schon Poulsen8David A. Wiss9The Collaborative Health Community, Oxford, United KingdomThe Collaborative Health Community, Oxford, United KingdomThe Collaborative Health Community, Oxford, United KingdomThe Collaborative Health Community, Oxford, United KingdomSweet Sobriety, Belgrade, MT, United StatesThe Collaborative Health Community, Oxford, United KingdomSweet Sobriety, Belgrade, MT, United StatesLevasockerfri, Linkoping, SwedenLevasockerfri, Linkoping, SwedenNutrition in Recovery LLC, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesThe topic of ultra-processed food addiction has been the subject of many peer-reviewed publications. Although on average 14% of adults may meet the criteria for ultra-processed food addiction in prevalence studies, it is not a recognized clinical diagnosis, hence a lack of published evidence-based treatment protocols and outcome data. In 2022, we reported outcomes pre- and post-intervention from an online, real food-based, low-carbohydrate educational program with psychosocial support related to ultra-processed food addiction recovery. The intervention was delivered across three locations, offering a common approach. The programs comprised weekly online sessions for 10–14 weeks, followed by monthly support groups. The previously published data were outcomes relating to ultra-processed food addiction symptoms measured by the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, ICD-10 symptoms of substance use disorder related to food (CRAVED), and mental well-being as measured by the short version of the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, pre- and post-intervention. The current report focuses on the same cohort’s 6- and 12-month follow-up data. The 12-month follow-up data show significant, sustained improvement in ultra-processed food addiction symptoms and mental well-being. These data are the first long-term follow-up results to be published for a food addiction program. Research is now needed to evaluate and compare other long-term interventions for this impairing and increasingly prevalent biopsychosocial condition.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1556988/fulladdictionsugarultra-processed foodlow carbohydrate dietketogenic diets |
| spellingShingle | Jen Unwin Christine Delon Heidi Giæver Clarissa Kennedy Clarissa Kennedy Molly Painschab Molly Painschab Frida Sandin Charlotte Schon Poulsen David A. Wiss Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up Frontiers in Psychiatry addiction sugar ultra-processed food low carbohydrate diet ketogenic diets |
| title | Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up |
| title_full | Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up |
| title_fullStr | Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up |
| title_short | Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up |
| title_sort | low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra processed food addiction 12 month follow up |
| topic | addiction sugar ultra-processed food low carbohydrate diet ketogenic diets |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1556988/full |
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