06/29/2024
One of the shortcomings of comparing diets to find the best one, is that we overlook the one thing they all have in common.
They all prioritize the use of whole foods rather than ultra-processed foods.
Can ultra-processed foods affect our weight?
One study randomized 20 adults to either an Ultraprocessed diet or to a diet of minimally processed foods for 2 weeks.
Diets were matched for calories, sugar, fiber, fat content.
After 2 weeks the participants switched places and ate the alternate diet for an additional 2 weeks.
At the conclusion of the study,
✨Individuals on the ultra-processed diet ate 500 more calories per day than those on the minimally processed diet
✨Participants gained on average 1 kg (2.2 lbs) on the ultra-processed diet, while those eating minimally processed foods lost 1 kg (2.2 lbs) each.
Although small in size, this study demonstrates a correlation between ultra-processed foods and weight gain.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03407053