Plain English with Derek Thompson What’s the Matter With America’s Food?
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Sep 26, 2025 
Joining the conversation are Kevin Hall, a former NIH nutrition researcher known for his work on ultra-processed foods, and Julia Belluz, a veteran health journalist with insights into how policies impact our food environment. They discuss how American health issues stem from inadequate food policies rather than just personal choices. Kevin shares findings from controlled trials on overeating driven by ultra-processed diets, while Julia highlights the historical roots of food regulation. Together, they advocate for targeted policies to improve food safety and nutrition.
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Environment Overrules Individual Will
- Julia Belluz argues obesity stems largely from an environment that overwhelms our biological appetite controls.
- She says hundreds of daily eating decisions are influenced outside conscious will, shifting blame from individuals to the food system.
NIH Trials Show Ultra-Processed Overeating
- Kevin Hall ran randomized inpatient trials comparing ultra-processed to non-processed diets while measuring all leftovers and body composition.
- He found people ate ~500 extra calories daily on ultra-processed diets and gained fat as a result.
Biology Controls Eating Behavior
- Hall explains food intake is biologically regulated by gut-brain and hormonal signals integrated in the brain.
- He notes we still don't know which specific food attributes disrupt those signals and raise defended body weight.
