About this Resource
In the UK and US, over half of all calories consumed come from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), a figure which has been steadily rising over time. The most used definition of ultra-processed food comes from the NOVA classification system which defines them as industrial formulations of ingredients not typically used within home cooking. Numerous strands of evidence point towards UPFs being harmful to health, but the mechanisms by which this occurs remains unclear.
Grounded in the Research
“Recent changes in the food environment, with greater access to and consumption of UPF has been a key driver of obesity. Observational evidence demonstrates positive associations between UPF, weight gain and obesity, and clinical evidence demonstrates increased energy intake and weight gain with UPFs. Mechanisms by which UPF may promote obesity are numerous, but inconclusive. UPFs may capture several characteristics that may encourage overconsumption, which may be insufficiently covered by most national dietary guidelines.”
Excerpt from: Dicken, S.J., Batterham, R.L. Ultra-processed Food and Obesity: What Is the Evidence?. Curr Nutr Rep 13, 23–38 (2024).
References
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