Ultra processed foods poor diet link

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a new study highlights that a diet high in ultra processed foods leads to poorer diet and an increase in eating disorders.

UPF intake was positively associated with binge eating and bulimia symptoms measured by BITE, emotional eating, external eating, and uncontrolled eating. These findings suggest that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with eating behaviors characterized by reduced self-regulation and heightened responsiveness to emotional and environmental cues.

High intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has been linked to increased prevalence of obesity, overweight, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, anxiety, depression, and all-cause mortality.

Higher ultra-processed food intake aligns with greater binge eating risk in obesity study

 

[Morning Glory]

Does anyone have a comprehensive definition of what is classified as an ultra processed food?

I read and hear various rather vague descriptions. Many everyday foods are processed: dried pasta, rice, bread, tomato ketchup, tinned baked beans. When does a food qualify as ultra processed?

 

[karadekoolaid]

No definite definition, as far as I can surmise.
I'd hazard a guess and say things like CheezWhiz, Pringles chips, devilled ham, SPAM, things like that, are ultra-processed. As soon as I see half a dozen chemicals on the label and things like "milk solids", "processed pork collagen", "reconstituted potato"and "dehydrated artifical flavourings"...
I give them a wide berth generally, preferring to cook from scratch.

 

[Barriehie]

There is/are definition(s).

Britannica, the encyclopedia people, define them like this.

In the Nova food classification system they're like this.

There are many others from various WhateverClinic.org sites but they all generally agree.

 

[karadekoolaid]

Britannica, the encyclopedia people, define them like this.

Interesting that they describe distilled alcoholic beverages as ultra-processed. I've seen how they make whisky, and bourbon, and I'd say it's about as ultra-processed as making an omelette.
Soak the barley (corn) , dry it out, make beer, distill it once to make low wine, distill it again. and maybe once more.
Barley/corn, water, yeast, that's about it.

 

[badjak]

Interesting that they describe distilled alcoholic beverages as ultra-processed. I've seen how they make whisky, and bourbon, and I'd say it's about as ultra-processed as making an omelette.
Soak the barley (corn) , dry it out, make beer, distill it once to make low wine, distill it again. and maybe once more.
Barley/corn, water, yeast, that's about it.

I agree and it should be more specified. Not just distilled alcohol.
Some distilled alcohol is made with high alcohol tolerance yeast and sugar water (sugar mash) with flavourings added later on to the clear alcohol. Maybe they mean those?