Ultra-Processed Foods: New Studies Reveal Potential Health Risks and Strategies for Change

Consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods increases the risk of death by any cause by 4%
Professor Barry Smith suggests taking a break from ultra-processed foods, checking food labels for minimally processed products, and finding alternatives to UPFs
Ultra-processed foods are linked to a higher risk of 32 health problems including type 2 diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disease
Ultra-Processed Foods: New Studies Reveal Potential Health Risks and Strategies for Change

Title: Uncovering the Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods: A Comprehensive Look

In recent years, researchers have identified a growing concern regarding the consumption of ultra-processed foods and their impact on health. Two studies published in renowned journals shed light on this issue, highlighting the potential risks associated with these types of foods.

Firstly, a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health revealed that consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods increases the risk of death by any cause by 4%. The researchers identified four categories of ultra-processed foods that raise health concerns: ready-to-eat or heat meals, sugary products, snacks, and drinks.

Another study published in JAMA Network Open found that people with type 2 diabetes who were being treated with GLP-1 drugs had a significantly lower risk of developing certain cancers. The risk was cut by more than half for gallbladder cancer, meningioma, pancreatic cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The connection between ultra-processed foods and health risks is not new. A study published in The BMJ linked UPFs to a higher risk of 32 health problems, including type 2 diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disease.

Professor Barry Smith, a former consultant for Kellogg's, Coca-Cola, and Ferrero shared his experience with ultra-processed foods. He revealed that UPFs accounted for about 30% to 40% of his diet and that he lost weight without trying after cutting them out.

To help others make informed choices, Smith suggested three strategies: taking a break from UPFs entirely, checking food labels for minimally processed products, and finding genuinely tasty alternatives to ultra-processed foods.

In conclusion, the evidence is clear that ultra-processed foods pose significant health risks. By being aware of these risks and making informed choices about our diets, we can take steps to reduce our intake of UPFs and improve our overall health.


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Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

87%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

A scientist lost weight without trying after he stopped eating the types of ultra-processed foods he helped create. Here are 3 ways he cut down.

Business Insider Kim Schewitz Tuesday, 09 July 2024 05:23
  • Unique Points
    • Professor Barry Smith, a former consultant for Kellogg's, Coca-Cola, and Ferrero, lost weight without trying after cutting ultra-processed foods (UPFs) from his diet.
    • UPFs accounted for 30% to 40% of Professor Smith’s diet and are made using ingredients and processes not found in a regular kitchen.
    • Smith started reducing his UPF intake in 2020 after being asked on a podcast by Dr. Chris van Tulleken, author of the book ‘Ultra Processed People’.
    • A study published in The BMJ linked UPFs to a higher risk of 32 health problems, including type 2 diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disease.
    • Smith no longer works with UPF companies and has shared three strategies that helped him change his diet: taking a break from UPFs entirely, checking food labels for minimally processed products, and finding genuinely tasty alternatives to ultra-processed foods.
  • Accuracy
    • Professor Barry Smith lost weight without trying after cutting ultra-processed foods (UPFs) from his diet.
    • These foods contain the perfect fat-to-carbohydrate ratio, making it difficult for individuals to stop eating them and slowing down their satiety mechanisms.
    • In 2024, a research paper by Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute found that UPFs made up 73% of the US food supply.
  • Deception (50%)
    The author makes several statements that imply facts without providing peer-reviewed studies to back them up. For example, she states that 'UPFs accounted for about 30% to 40% of [Professor Barry Smith's] diet' and 'A 2024 research paper by Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute, which hasn’t been peer-reviewed, found they made up 73% of the US food supply.' These statements are not supported by any evidence provided in the article. Additionally, the author uses emotional manipulation by describing UPFs as 'foods that are so desired by our system that they actually slow down our satiety mechanisms' and 'These are foods that we want and can’t seem to stop wanting.' This language is intended to elicit an emotional response from the reader rather than providing factual information.
    • A 2024 research paper by Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute, which hasn’t been peer-reviewed, found they made up 73% of the US food supply
    • UPFs accounted for about 30% to 40% of [Professor Barry Smith's] diet
  • Fallacies (95%)
    There are no formal fallacies present in the article. However, there is an appeal to authority and a slight dichotomous depiction.
    • Appeal to Authority: Professor Barry Smith, the director of the University of London Institute of Philosophy, told Business Insider that he previously worked with Kellogg's, Coca-Cola, and Ferrero and that UPFs accounted for about 30% to 40% of his diet.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Popular weight-loss and diabetes medications linked to lower risk of some cancers, study finds

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Deidre McPhillips Saturday, 06 July 2024 00:40
  • Unique Points
    • GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy may help lower the risk of certain cancers, a new study suggests.
    • People with type 2 diabetes who were being treated with GLP-1 drugs were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with 10 of the 13 obesity-associated cancers than those who were taking insulin.
    • The risk was cut by more than half for gallbladder cancer, meningioma, pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (a kind of liver cancer).
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (80%)
    The article makes several statements that could be considered selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author quotes data from the CDC about the link between excess weight and cancer risk, but does not mention that this data also shows that only about 2% of new cancer diagnoses are due to genetic factors. By focusing solely on excess weight as a cause of cancer, the article creates an emotional response in readers without providing a complete picture. Additionally, while the study found that GLP-1 medications were associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers, it also noted that this was not the case for all types of cancer and that there were potential risks associated with their use. However, these caveats are not emphasized in the article and could lead readers to form an overly positive view of GLP-1 medications. Lastly, while the study is cited as a source, it is not explicitly stated that it was funded by the manufacturers of GLP-1 medications.
    • The new findings that link GLP-1 treatment to reduced risk of some cancers compare favorably with similar effects linked to intensive lifestyle intervention and metabolic-bariatric surgery...
    • But a study published Friday in the journal JAMA Network Open found that people with type 2 diabetes who were being treated with a class of GLP-1 drugs were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with 10 of the 13 obesity-associated cancers than those who were taking insulin...
    • People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer... About 40% of new cancer diagnoses are associated with excess weight...
  • Fallacies (95%)
    No explicit logical fallacies found in the author's statements. However, some problematic aspects include dichotomous depiction and inflammatory rhetoric present in direct quotes from sources or subjects of the article.
    • . . . about 40% of new cancer diagnoses are associated with excess weight, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    • Excess weight can cause changes in the body such as long-lasting inflammation and higher than normal levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor and sex hormones that can cause cancer, according to the CDC.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Get Healthy: Hot Topics: Riskiest ultra-processed foods, gender and exercise, faulty TikTok medical advice, huge heart disease risk, olive oil to ease dementia mortality

AllSides News Monday, 08 July 2024 13:30
  • Unique Points
    • Researchers have identified four categories of ultra-processed foods that raise health concerns.
    • Consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods increases the risk of death by any cause by 4%.
    • About 40% of new cancer diagnoses are associated with excess weight, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    • People who consumed significant amounts of ultra-processed foods were 10% more likely to die during the study’s long follow-up period than those who did not.
  • Accuracy
    • Ultra-processed foods such as hot dogs, sausages, and deli meats have been linked to a higher mortality risk.
    • A diet heavy in ultra-processed foods may increase the risk of mortality among older Americans by as much as 10%.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

94%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Eating ultra-processed foods may raise risk of death by 10%

Medical News Today Robby Berman Tuesday, 09 July 2024 05:28
  • Unique Points
    • A diet heavy in ultra-processed foods may increase the risk of mortality among older Americans by as much as 10%.
    • People who consumed significant amounts of ultra-processed foods were 10% more likely to die during the study’s long follow-up period than those who did not.
  • Accuracy
    • Eating ultra-processed foods is linked to an increased risk of mortality in older people.
    • ,
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication