Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially-created substances that consist of no or minimal naturally-occurring food, and contain artificially-inflated levels of fat, sugar, and sodium (e.g., salty snacks, packaged desserts, fast food). These foods are harmful to health, but they are very difficult to reduce from our diets, since they are hyperpalatable, convenient, cheap, and ubiquitous in the US.

Disrupt will test 2-month, group-based (virtual) programs for reducing UPF intake among 60 adults with overweight or obesity (ages 18-70) who frequently consume UPFs. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive a standard dietary change (SDC) intervention, in which they will learn the typical toolbox of evidence-based methods for changing diet (e.g., meal planning, problem solving), and/or a cognitive dissonance intervention (ON/OFF). In this intervention, participants will learn about the harms of the food industry and be engaged in exercises designed to elicit cognitive dissonance for consuming UPFs.