Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05191030

Cortisol and Food Insecurity

This study used a within-subjects design in a sample of individuals with a range of food insecurity recruited from the Los Angeles community (N = 400; 44.5% men). These participants then, in counterbalanced order, were exposed to a gold-standard laboratory stressor and a control condition, one month apart. Moderation analyses will test whether cortisol reactivity to the stressor acts as a modulator of the relationship between high levels of food insecurity and increased hyperpalatable food intake.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Food Insecurity Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Stress, Psychological

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18+
  • English-speaking

Exclusion criteria

  • Recent (<1 year) diagnosis of major psychiatric disorders including any mood disorder, schizophrenia, or PTSD
  • Recent (<1 year) diagnosis of eating disorder
  • Recent (<1 year) diagnosis of metabolic or endocrine disorder or steroid or hormonal contraceptive use
  • Pregnancy
  • Allergy to any of the foods in the food buffet
  • Participation in strict dieting or caloric restriction

Treatment and study plan

High-Stress Intervention

Behavioral

Those undergoing the High-Stress will be exposed to a gold-standard laboratory stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (Kirschbaum et al., 1993), which reliably induces cortisol reactivity in most individuals.

Primary outcomes

  1. Hyperpalatable Food Intake Measured in Kilocalories

    Time frame: Hyperpalatable food intake was measured twice: 5 minutes following the experimental (high stress) or control condition during the first visit, and again 5 minutes following the alternate condition during the second visit.

    The primary outcome was hyperpalatable food intake, initially measured in grams and converted into kilocalories. The food consisted of the following items: donuts, M&Ms, potato chips, crackers, and Sprite. These foods were chosen because processed foods, added sugars, refined grains, starchy vegetables, and sugar sweetened beverages are foods to avoid according to the 2019 American Diabetes Association Nutrition Consensus Report and are high in carbohydrates and glycemic index.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Registry information

Official study title

Food Insecurity, Poor Diet, and Metabolic Syndrome: Cortisol's Amplifying Role

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 13, 2022
Registry last updated
Jul 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.