247. Are Ultra-Processed Foods as Dangerous as We’re Led to Believe?
About this episode
This episode explores the complexities of ultra-processed foods and their relationship with diet culture and eating behaviors.
"Just because a food is categorized as an ultra-processed food does not make it bad or unhealthy." Ultra-processed foods are making headlines, being blasted as addictive and dangerous, but what does the evidence actually tell us? In this episode, I unpack what ultra-processed foods really are, how the NOVA classification system defines them, and why the research linking them to binge eating, “food addiction,” and eating disorders is more complex than it sounds. We also explore how diet culture, restriction, and personal food history shape our relationship with food, and why finding peace with food requires more compassion and less moralizing of food. What You’ll Learn: What ultra-processed foods actually are, how they’re defined in research, and why these definitions matter How media messaging about ultra-processed foods can activate guilt and food anxiety What current research actually says about the links between ultra-processed foods, binge eating, and so-called “food addiction” The limitations of using “food addiction” scales and why your dieting history can shape your behaviors around these foods The power of habituation: how repeated, less-restricted exposure to…
People in this episode
Host: Bonnie Roney
Topics covered
- ultra-processed foods
- diet culture
- food addiction
- binge eating
- nutrition
- health
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