biostudies-literatureUnknown10Lemos TC<h4>Background</h4>Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are becoming extensively available in the food environments. UPF are industrial formulations that are designed to maximize palatability and consumption through a combination of calorie-dense ingredients and chemical additives. UPFs are also aggressively marketed, which may make them more attractive than unprocessed/minimally processed foods (UMPF). Since consumers' purchase decisions are guided by food-evoked emotions, we aimed to provide evidence that UPF visual cues trigger higher emotional responses and approach motivation than UMPF visual cues, with potential impacts on individuals' intention to consume the UPF over the UMPF.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants (<i>n</i> = 174; 144 women; mean age = 20.7 years; standard deviation = 4.35) performedFrontiers in public health891546https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9253546biostudies-literatureUltra-Processed Foods Elicit Higher Approach Motivation Than Unprocessed and Minimally Processed Foods.PMC9253546Oliveira LCoutinho GMSSilva LAAStariolo JBPereira MGMota BEFCanella DSCampagnoli RRKhandpur NLemos TCDavid IASouza GGLfalseUltra-Processed Foods Elicit Higher Approach Motivation Than Unprocessed and Minimally Processed Foods.<h4>Background</h4>Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are becoming extensively available in the food environments. UPF are industrial formulations that are designed to maximize palatability and consumption through a combination of calorie-dense ingredients and chemical additives. UPFs are also aggressively marketed, which may make them more attractive than unprocessed/minimally processed foods (UMPF). Since consumers' purchase decisions are guided by food-evoked emotions, we aimed to provide evidence that UPF visual cues trigger higher emotional responses and approach motivation than UMPF visual cues, with potential impacts on individuals' intention to consume the UPF over the UMPF.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants (<i>n</i> = 174; 144 women; mean age = 20.7 years; standard deviation = 4.35) performed2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-04-08T09:57:01.11Z2025-04-06T03:59:31.933ZS-EPMC92535463580123510.3389/fpubh.2022.891546