Ultra-Processed Foods and Obesity: The Undeniable Connection

A kitchen counter spread of ultra-processed foods like chips and chocolate, that can lead to obesity

How are ultra-processed foods and obesity linked? In what ways can ultra-processed foods become addictive? Dr. Chris van Tulleken, in his book Ultra-Processed People, explains how ultra-processed foods become addictive and cause us to eat more than necessary. Companies do this with tricks such as adding flavorings, softness, caloric density, and more. Keep reading to learn why ultra-processed foods are addictive and how they affect the body.

Van Tulleken’s Ultra-Processed Food Addiction Experiment

A vending machine full of addictive, ultra-processed junk food, such as chips and chocolate bars

Is ultra-processed food addiction real? What experiment did Dr. van Tulleken perform to prove it? In his book Ultra-Processed People, Dr. Chris van Tulleken experimented on himself to prove how addictive ultra-processed foods are. Not only were UPFs addictive, but they wreaked havoc on multiple different areas of his body. Here’s a look at van Tulleken’s experiment and the alarming results.

How Added Flavor Enhancers in Foods Trick Our Bodies

A grocery store aisle full of canned foods that contain flavor enhancers and other chemicals

How do flavor enhancers in foods trick our bodies and brains? Why aren’t ultra-processed foods actually foods? The process of manufacturing ultra-processed foods (UPF) destroys the thousands of molecules that comprise whole foods, effectively making them food-like substances. Part of the reason UPFs are so addictive despite this is because of their added flavorings. Here’s a look at the dangers of added flavoring in UPFs.

The Environmental Impacts of Food Production

A cartoon of planet Earth on a dinner plate, signifying the environmental impacts of food production

How do ultra-processed foods impact the environment? What is the leading cause of global biodiversity loss? Not only are ultra-processed foods horrible for people, they’re also horrible for the environment. UPF production causes the destruction of forests, releases greenhouse gasses, and causes biodiversity loss. Here’s a closer look at the environmental impacts of food production.

Ultra-Processed People: Book Overview (Chris van Tulleken)

A woman reading a book on a couch with an array of ultra-processed snacks around her, such as chips and soda

Why is it so hard to stop eating your favorite chips? What are the implications of supermarkets containing aisle after aisle of sodas, frozen meals, and packaged snacks—and only tiny produce sections?  In Ultra-Processed People, book author, professor, and infectious disease doctor Chris van Tulleken argues that ultra-processed food is destroying our health and our planet. He claims that ultra-processed food isn’t really food at all; rather, it’s akin to an addictive substance that tricks us into eating more. Below, we’ll explore van Tulleken’s arguments and his recommendations to counteract the effects of ultra-processed food.

How to Counteract the Negative Effects of Ultra-Processed Food

A billboard next to a highway that shows a bowl of chips with a red X through it, showing what can be done to stop the effects of ultra-processed foods

How can governments and individuals fight the effects of ultra-processed foods? In what ways should marketing for UPFs be changed? Most food is processed to some extent. Even baking bread or making a smoothie in the blender are forms of processing. But ultra-processed food is different. Ultra-processing doesn’t just modify food—it transforms food into something else entirely. Here’s what can be done to fight against the prevalence of UPFs.

The “Linear Life” Is a Myth: Here’s Why It’s Dangerous

A black squiggly horizontal line on a white background used to represent the nonlinear life

What is the “linear life”? How can believing in a linear life set you up for disappointment? How can you embrace a nonlinear life? When we imagine our lives, we often imagine the ideal: college, career, family, and retirement. The truth is that most people’s lives aren’t that straightforward and include many life-altering disrupters and transitions along the way. Keep reading to learn why you should embrace a nonlinear life, according to Bruce Feiler in Life Is in the Transitions.

Why Is Change So Hard? The 2 Reasons (Bruce Feiler)

A cartoon image of a boy crying over a tombstone that reads "my old life" because life changes are so hard to overcome

Why is change so hard? What gives us a sense of meaning in life? What are the three stages of adaptation? In his book Life is in the Transitions, Bruce Feiler explains that many people struggle to navigate life changes, especially transformations, for two reasons. The first reason is that change can alter the meaning of your life and the second is that adapting to change is similar to grieving a death. We’ll go over each reason in detail below.