US EditionEating Minimally Processed Meals Doubles Weight Loss Even when Ultraprocessed Foods Are Healthy, Study Finds
UNITED KINGDOM, AUG 4 – Participants lost twice as much weight on a minimally processed diet compared to an ultra-processed diet despite similar fat and sugar levels, according to researchers at University College London.
- On Monday, UCL and UCLH published in Nature Medicine that 55 overweight participants lost twice as much weight on minimally processed meals versus ultra-processed foods during an eight-week trial.
- Amid rising obesity rates, large population studies have linked UPFs to health risks, including weight gain, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, with food experts divided on their harm.
- Data from the trial shows calorie intake differences: those on a minimally processed diet ate 290 fewer calories daily and lost just over 2% of weight, compared with 120 fewer calories and 1% weight loss on the UPF diet.
- Over a year, projections suggest a 13% weight reduction in men and 9% in women on a minimally processed diet, but only 4 in men and 5 in women after an ultra-processed diet, according to Samuel Dicken.
- Avoiding ultra-processed foods like pre-packaged sandwiches and protein bars, Professor Rachel Batterham recommends prioritising whole foods and cooking from scratch to support weight loss.
19 Articles
19 Articles
This diet helped people lose twice as much weight, without eating less
People eating minimally processed foods lost twice as much weight as those on ultra-processed diets, even though both diets were nutritionally balanced and participants could eat freely. This real-world, long-term study revealed that food processing itself—not just nutrients—plays a significant role in shaping body weight and health outcomes.
By Sandee LaMotte, CNN People in the UK lost twice as much weight by eating typically home-made foods that when they ate ultra-processed foods bought in stores considered healthy, according to the latest research. “This new study shows that even when an ultra-processed diet meets nutritional guidelines, people will also lose more weight by eating a minimally processed diet,” said co-author Dr. Kevin Hall, a former lead investigator at the U.S. N…
Eating minimally processed meals doubles weight loss even when ultraprocessed foods are healthy, study finds
People who ate more typical home-cooked meals lost twice the weight of people eating ultraprocessed foods that met healthy nutritional guidelines, study finds
Losing weight is twice as hard if you're eating UPFs, scientists find
People lost twice as much weight while eating homemade meals than when consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) with similar levels of fat and sugar, a study has found.The findings add to evidence that meals made from scratch are healthier than UPFs, like the ready meals and pre-prepared sauces, soups and desserts that are common in modern diets, said scientists who did the research.But other experts cautioned that the results contradict previous …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 88% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
