The role of ultra-processed food in obesity
The global increase in obesity has occurred in parallel to a dietary shift from traditional staple foods to ultra-processed foods (UPF), spurring scientific interest in UPF as a driver of the obesity pandemic. Herein, we summarize the current evidence regarding the role of UPF in obesity, with a specific focus on potential biological mechanisms. The literature strongly supports and corroborates ecological, epidemiological and mechanistic lines of research indicating that dietary patterns high in UPF promote overeating and increase the risk of overweight and obesity. Experimental evidence demonstrates that the soft texture, high energy density and hyperpalatable nutrient combinations of UPF facilitate excessive energy intakes by affecting ingestive behaviours, satiety signalling and food reward systems. Although not fully elucidated, it is plausible that several other UPF attributes (such as emulsifiers, non-nutritive sweeteners, acellular nutrients, and contaminants from processing and packaging materials) contribute to their obesogenic effects through a myriad of physiological pathways, including altered absorption kinetics, glycaemic response and the gut microbiota composition and function. To stem the global rise in obesity, multipronged policy efforts are needed to reduce UPF consumption and create health-promoting food systems.
Key points
- Profound changes to the structure and operations of global food systems have probably contributed to the global increase in obesity by promoting dietary patterns based on ultra-processed foods (UPF).
- UPF are industrial formulations manufactured by deconstructing foods into their component parts (such as oils, starches and sweeteners), modifying them (for example, through enzymatic processes) and recombining them with cosmetic additives.
- Epidemiological and experimental evidence consistently links UPF dietary patterns to increased energy intake, weight gain and indicators of excess weight.
- UPF present evolutionarily novel nutritional, physical and chemical characteristics that might influence energy intake and weight homeostasis through multiple biological pathways, including food reward systems, appetite and/or satiety regulation and changes to the microbiome.
- Additional research is warranted, especially regarding the effects of UPF exposure during pivotal life stages (such as pregnancy, childhood and adolescence), and to further clarify biological mechanisms of action.
- Multipronged mutually reinforcing policies that act on the food environment (for example, fiscal measures, front-of-package warning labels and marketing restrictions) could be an effective public health strategy to reduce UPF consumption.
Open access paper:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-025-01143-7
1 Like
