From Fox News: A new study suggests that cutting out a single category of foods could nearly double people’s weight-loss results.
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine on Aug. 4, found that overweight adults who ditched ultra-processed foods (UPFs) lost nearly twice as much weight over a two-month span as those who did not.
UPFs include microwave meals, sodas, potato chips and packaged cookies, among others.
But they can also include items marketed as “health foods,” some medical professionals say.
Below is an important excerpt from the study, published by Nature Medicine:
Three billion people worldwide live with overweight or obesity, driving increased risks of noncommunicable disease and early death. A proposed cause has been from recent major changes in the food environment. In particular, the increased accessibility and consumption of ultraprocessed food (UPF). Most commonly defined using the Nova classification, UPF are industrial formulations combining extracts of original foods with additives and industrial ingredients. Examples include breakfast cereals, sweets, and mass-produced bread.
Over 50% of UK energy intake is reported to come from UPF6, with similarly high intakes in the USA and Europe. Higher UPF intakes are associated with increased risks of obesity8, cardiometabolic disease, and all-cause mortality. As a result, countries including Brazil and organizations including the World Health Organization recommend reducing UPF intake in their dietary guidance. In the UK, where nearly two-thirds of adults live with overweight or obesity, calls have been made for policy action on reducing UPF, yet this is still debated.
Calories matter — but how your food is processed also matters ➡️
🔬 A new RCT in Nature shows people lost more weight on a minimally processed diet vs. an ultra-processed one — even when following the same national dietary guidelines.
🧠🍽️https://t.co/u1dpjgZ608— Daniel Berglind, PhD (@DanielBerglind) August 5, 2025
New RCT in @naturemedicine. Both ultraprocessed #UPF and minimally processed food #MPF diets led to weight loss, but MPF had significantly more impact. Food quality matters. https://t.co/3NNzK84hXS pic.twitter.com/HNtTTDtVQb
— Scott Isaacs (@scottisaacsmd) August 5, 2025
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