Ultra-Processed People

This is a review of Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken.

This book focuses on ‘what UPF is really doing to our bodies, health, our children, and the planet’. The No.1 Sunday Times best seller is an in-depth scientific look at food and the food industry.

Positive takeaways:

·       The key driving force behind obesity is not lack of exercise. nutrition is key.

·       Chris addresses the obstacles we face in aiming for a diet with no UPF. Cooking skill, cooking facilities and income being key.

·       Food is more than its component parts. As useful as Macros (Protein, Fat, Carbohydrate) can be in informing our food choices it is not a foolproof system. Having our Macro goals met by UPF would still not be considered a healthy diet. The same flaw is evident in just tracking calories.

·       The book emphasises how hard it can be to manage our health and nutrition in a food system that drives us to excess through both marketing and the product itself. For example, fast food advertisements, colourful mascots on UPF food aimed towards children. UPF is manufactured for us to enjoy and to be addictive.

·       Provides a valuable insight into the scientific process. How scientific studies are influenced by the corporations sponsoring them and the scientists involved.

Negative takeaways:

·       The book diminishes the role of personal responsibility in what we eat. Even containing a section highlighting how we would be powerless in resisting UPF placed in front of us. I do not believe this to be true, although there are many contributing factors that may limit our choices, we always have a choice in what we eat. I see this evidenced at the end of the book, contradicting the earlier message. Chris himself, as well as his brother, have now gone on 0UPF diets and avoid it at all times. They go as far as calling themselves addicts avoiding their vice. There will of course be an element of willpower in this.

OVERALL

Overall, this book is a fantastic scientific deep dive on Ultra-processed foods, the industry, and the scientific process. I would consider this book required reading for any nutritionist or healthcare professional.

It’s an eye-opening look into how the food industry can influence scientific studies to meet their own agendas.

The summary that UPF is food designed not to feed people, but to make a profit, is a powerful statement that I wholeheartedly agree with.