Ultra processed foods (UPFs) are making up a larger share of the caloric intake of people worldwide, with the percentage of US adults consuming UPFs increasing from 53.5 to 57. This trend is particularly prevalent in younger children, especially boys.
This podcast delves into the world of ultra-processed food, how it affects the hormones that regulate our hunger and the role of food science in creating these products with no nutritional value.
As we age, we tend to gain weight naturally, around one to two pounds per year, and at the age of around 60, our metabolism starts to drop, leading to an even larger middle-aged spread. However, building muscles can help increase metabolism and burn food faster.
A study conducted on the metabolic rates of those who consumed a meal of whole foods versus processed foods with the same calorie count found that even though the calories were the same, the metabolic rates of those who ate the processed foods were lower.
The study of thousands of children in an intervention program led to a change in understanding about obesity and its causes. Obesity in children is now seen as a result of lifestyle choices and decisions made by individuals.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends considering bariatric surgery for children aged 13 and older with severe obesity, as well as prescribing weight loss drugs for children aged 12 and older. Obesity can persist through a person's lifetime and worsen as they age, and doctors are urged to screen children as young as two for obesity.