Findings seen compared with an ultra-processed diet that meets national dietary guidelines<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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TUESDAY, Aug. 5, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Diets high in ultra-processed food (UPF), even those meeting national dietary guidelines, may be less effective for weight loss than minimally processed food (MPF) diets, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in Nature Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Samuel J. Dicken, Ph.D., from University College London, and colleagues conducted a 2 \u00d7 2 crossover randomized controlled feeding trial, in which 55 adults (body mass index \u226525 to <40 kg\/m2<\/sup> and habitual UPF intake \u226550 percent kcal\/day) were provided with two eight-week ad libitum, pre-prepared diets following the UK Eatwell Guide: an MPF diet and UPF diet (in a random order).<\/p>\n The researchers found that both diets resulted in weight loss (percent weight change, \u22122.06 and \u22121.05 for MPF and UPF, respectively). The percent weight change with the MPF diet was significantly greater (change in percent weight change, \u22121.01; Cohen’s d, \u22120.48). Both diets were commonly tied to mild gastrointestinal adverse events.<\/p>\n “If we scaled these results up over the course of a year, we\u2019d expect to see a 13 percent weight reduction in men and a 9 percent reduction in women on the minimally processed diet, but only a 4 percent weight reduction in men and 5 percent in women after the ultra-processed diet,” Dicken said in a statement. “Over time this would start to become a big difference.”<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to relevant organizations.<\/p>\n