Pre-Screening Survey - Processed and Unprocessed Food Feeding Study

This is a pre-screening eligibility survey for our processed and unprocessed food controlled feeding study. This survey will help us determine if you are potentially eligible to participate in this study. Following the completion of this survey, we will contact you with the next steps. If you meet the criteria for this pre-screening survey, we will send you an informed consent document which outlines details of the study. We will go through the consent form in detail at the first visit before any additional eligibility testing is conducted. To confirm if you meet the criteria for this study through additional in-person testing, we will invite you to come to our lab on the Virginia Tech campus. Free, convenient parking will be provided at no cost to you.

Briefly, the full study consists of 8 weeks of controlled feeding. That means you only consume the foods and beverages that we provide for you. We cannot accommodate special diets/diet restrictions as the diets are standardized for all participants. You will come to the lab each morning for breakfast and take your cooler of food for each day on a daily basis for 8 weeks (6 days/week). On Saturday, you will take a cooler for the next 48 hours. You will be randomized into 1 of 2 groups: 1 group will receive a diet high in processed foods and 1 group will receive a diet high in unprocessed foods. The diets will be matched for nutrient content (for example, the same percentage of calories from fat, carbohydrate, and protein) and only differ in the types of foods offered. All of the groups will be blinded - neither you or the researchers (besides the study coordinator) will know which group you are in. We will be examining if consuming ultra-processed foods has any impact on glucose levels or cardiovascular health. In addition to receiving all of your meals, and information regarding your health, you will be given $800 in compensation for completing all study visits. Additional study procedures over the 8 weeks include wearing a continuous glucose monitor on your upper arm for 7 days at the beginning of the study and 7 days at the end of the study; 3 oral glucose tolerance tests (a catheter will be placed in your arm for blood draws); two 48-hour urine collections;  two 3-day stool sample collections; 2 measurements of blood vessel function; and a DEXA scan to measure your lean body mass and body fat percent. We will also evaluate your usual diet and your physical activity habits.

Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. There are no foreseeable risks associated with completing this survey. However, if you feel uncomfortable answering any questions, you can withdraw from the survey at any point.

Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will only be shared with the project director and study coordinator. Your information will be coded and will remain confidential. If you have questions at any time about the survey or the procedures, you may contact Dr. Brenda Davy at 540-231-6784 or by email at bdavy@vt.edu or Dr. Elaina Marinik at 540-230-0923 or emarinik@vt.edu.  

Thank you very much for your time and interest in our research. Please start with the survey now by clicking on the "Start" button below.