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Ultraprocessed Foods and Obesity Risk: A Critical Review of Reported Mechanisms
Vinicius M Valicente1, Ching-Hsuan Peng2, Kathryn N Pacheco1
1Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)
|April 20, 2023
Summary
Current evidence does not confirm that avoiding ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) is necessary for weight management. More research is needed to verify causality and understand the mechanisms behind UPF consumption and body mass index.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Dietary Assessment
- Public Health
Background:
- Epidemiologic studies suggest a link between ultraprocessed food (UPF) intake and increased body mass index (BMI).
- Recommendations to avoid UPFs exist, but causal evidence is limited.
- Proposed mechanisms for UPF's effect on weight are numerous and varied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate proposed mechanisms linking UPFs to body weight.
- To assess the evidence for causality between UPF consumption and adiposity.
- To inform dietary recommendations regarding UPF intake.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of proposed mechanisms related to food choice, composition, and digestion.
- Evaluation of existing data on UPF vs. non-UPF effects on appetite, intake, and adiposity.
- Assessment of data availability and sufficiency for key proposed mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Data do not support a unique role for UPFs in affecting appetite, intake, or adiposity via mechanisms like fiber, texture, or digestive transit.
- Evidence is insufficient or unavailable for mechanisms involving microbiome, additives, packaging, cost, and shelf-life.
- Some UPF components, like low-calorie sweeteners and beverages, may moderate body weight.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence is insufficient to establish causality between UPFs and weight gain.
- Avoidance of UPFs may have adverse effects, including reduced diet quality and increased food waste.
- Prudent dietary recommendations require verification of causality and plausible mechanisms before UPF avoidance is advised.
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