Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Overeating in Young Adults

After two weeks on a diet high in ultra-processed foods, people in thier late teens and early twenties continued to consume excessive calories, even when not hungry, new research reveals.

This wasn’t the case for similarly aged individuals who followed a two-week diet focused on healthy, unprocessed foods.

much of the extra calorie intake among those eating ultra-processed foods came from snacking.

“Snacking when not hungry is a key predictor of future weight gain in young people, and it appears exposure to ultra-processed foods increases this tendency in adolescents,” explained study co-author Alex DiFeliceantonio,an assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at virginia Tech in Blackburn.

Currently, ultra-processed foods make up as much as 65% of daily calories for Americans between 15 and 24 years old, the researchers noted.

Ultra-processed foods are primarily made from ingredients extracted from whole foods,such as saturated fats,starches,and added sugars.

They also include numerous additives designed to enhance taste, appearance, and shelf life.Common examples include packaged baked goods, sugary cereals, ready-to-eat meals, and processed deli meats.

In contrast, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are unprocessed and naturally nutritious.