Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Satiety, Microbiome, Appetite Regulation, and Tracking Energy Across Targeted Snacks: Acute Postprandial Study

This research wants to understand how different snack foods impact hunger, how much we eat, and our energy levels. It’s for healthy adults and takes place remotely over 5 days. Participants will eat two different types of snack bars – one that’s high in fibre and another that’s more typical of snacks sold today. You'll eat them for breakfast on two separate days, with a couple of days in between. After each snack, you'll complete short online surveys for about three hours to track how you feel. You'll also keep a record of what you eat for the rest of the day. The main goal is to see if the high-fibre snack bar helps you feel fuller and affects your eating habits differently than the control snack bar.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Zoe Global Limited

Enrolment target

Start

14 Aug 2026

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2026

Healthy Participants Healthy Adult Subject Healthy Subjects Healthy Adult Volunteer Healthy Adult Participants

What is this study about?

This study is designed to explore how different snack bars can affect how hungry you feel, how much you eat, and your general energy and mood throughout the day. Researchers are especially interested in snacks because many of us eat them regularly, and they can make up a big part of our daily food intake. Currently, many snacks available in the UK aren't very healthy, often lacking fibre and having too much sugar and unhealthy fats. Fibre is really important for our health, but most people don't get enough.

The researchers want to compare a new high-fibre, plant-based snack bar with a standard snack bar that's similar to what's commonly sold in shops. By doing this, they hope to learn if the special ingredients in the high-fibre bar can help people feel fuller for longer, influence their eating choices, and impact their energy levels and mood. This first phase of the study, called an 'acute postprandial study,' means they're looking at the immediate effects of eating these snacks over a few hours and for the rest of the day.

Ultimately, the study aims to provide useful insights into how snack choices can affect our immediate well-being and eating behaviours. It’s part of a bigger effort to understand how food can play a role in long-term health, helping us make better food choices.

Key takeaways

This study investigates how different snack bars affect hunger and eating in healthy adults.
It compares a high-fibre snack bar to a standard snack bar.
Participation is remote and involves two snack-testing days over a 5-day period.
You'll complete short online surveys and record your food intake.
The goal is to understand how snack choices impact well-being and eating habits.
Healthy adults aged 35-65 who snack regularly and have low fibre intake may be eligible.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a healthy adult living in the UK, aged between 35 and 65 years old. You should eat snacks at least twice a day and typically not get enough fibre in your diet (less than 20 grams per day). It’s important that you’re willing to follow the study instructions and fill out the online forms truthfully.

There are certain reasons you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you have a BMI (Body Mass Index) that's either very low (under 18.5) or very high (over 40). You also can't participate if you're allergic to any ingredients in the snack bars, or have certain gut conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or IBS. People who have had a heart attack, stroke, or major surgery recently, or are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, are also not suitable for this study. If you're taking certain medications or supplements that could affect the study results, or if you've recently used products from ZOE (the company behind the study), you wouldn't be able to take part.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 35 and 65 years old?
Do you live in the UK?
Do you usually eat snacks at least twice a day?
Do you eat less than 20 grams of fibre daily?
Do you not have a very low (under 18.5) or very high (over 40) BMI?
Are you free from certain gut conditions like IBS or inflammatory bowel disease?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you take part, you'll be involved for a total of 5 days, though the main activities happen on two separate test days. On these two test days, you'll eat two snack bars for breakfast. You’ll need to avoid eating anything after 9 PM the night before each test day. After eating the snack bars, you'll complete short online surveys (which take less than 5 minutes) at specific times over the next three hours. During these three hours, you also won't be able to eat anything else. For the rest of each test day, you'll be asked to write down everything you eat. The study is conducted remotely, meaning you can participate from your own home, without needing to visit a clinic.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no major risks expected from taking part in this study, as it involves eating commonly available snack foods. The main benefit is helping researchers understand how different snacks affect hunger and eating habits, which could lead to better advice for healthy eating in the future. You might also gain a better understanding of your own eating patterns. You are completely free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and it won't affect your future medical care.

Locations (1)

ZOE limited
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What kind of snack bars will I be eating?

You'll be trying two different types: one is a high-fibre, plant-based snack bar, and the other is a control snack bar similar to typical UK snacks.

Do I need to go to a clinic?

No, this is a remote study. You can take part from your home in the UK.

How long will I be involved in the study?

The study lasts for 5 days in total, with two main test days where you'll eat the snack bars and fill out surveys.

Will I know which snack bar I'm eating?

The information doesn't state if it's 'blinded,' meaning you might not know which type of snack bar you're eating at the time to avoid influencing your responses.

Will I get paid for taking part?

The information provided does not mention any payment or compensation for participation.

How to find out more

Study Co-ordinator

smarteats-trial@joinzoe.com +44 (0)330 818 8669 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.