Today, Explained Let’s process food
50 snips
Dec 22, 2023 
Join Chris van Tulleken, an infectious disease specialist and author of Ultra-Processed People, as he shares his month-long adventure consuming ultra-processed foods. He discusses how these foods disrupt our biology and contribute to childhood obesity, revealing shocking marketing strategies. Chris highlights the addictive nature of these products and the challenges of breaking free from them. He advocates for food regulation and emphasizes the urgent need to address food inequality, particularly for marginalized communities.
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UPF and Obesity
- Dr. Chris van Tulleken became interested in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) while working on a BBC assignment about childhood obesity.
- He initially thought it was a complex issue, but research pointed to UPF marketing as the primary cause.
Defining UPFs
- Defining harmful foods has been a challenge, with terms like "junk food" lacking precision.
- Scientists in Brazil developed a formal definition for ultra-processed foods, leading to a decade of research.
Identifying UPFs
- Ultra-processed foods are typically wrapped in plastic and contain at least one ingredient not found in home kitchens.
- They make up about 60% of the average diet in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
