Empowered Health Course · Lesson 21 · 3:23
What's the interaction between ultra-processed foods and obesity? We know we eat around 70% of our calories as ultra-processed foods, and greater exposure to them increases the likelihood of developing obesity. It comes down to how these foods are created — their chemical composition and structure, often combining sugar, fat, and salt — and how that combination affects the deep structure of the brain and the appetite center.
Ultra-processed foods tend to cause us to eat beyond our caloric needs. They're designed to do that, and that's why we want them. For instance, I love Oreos, and when they're around I have a hard time stopping after a couple — I want more. There are also certain situations where I want them more, like right after the kids go to bed. My brain has learned, through repeated exposure, that coming down the stairs at night means it's time to go to the pantry.
It might not even be that I like what's in the pantry — there's just a wanting, and the reward is relieving that wanting, which reinforces the pattern. So these ultra-processed foods, created and designed for us to want them, draw their power from this unconscious part of the brain that's been trained over time to want them.
This transcript has been lightly edited from the video for readability. For the complete experience, please watch the video above.