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Ultra-processed food leads to excessive eating

Twenty adults were analyzed for four weeks while alternating between an unprocessed and ultra-processed diet. While on the diets, they were offered food containing identical amounts of calories, sugar, fat, fiber, protein, and carbs. During the weeks with ultra-processed food (UPF), they ate 500 calories more per day and gained 2 pounds. Those diets led to higher carbohydrate and fat consumption, but no change in protein. It's a frightening look at the impact of processed food. Hit the farmer's market, you may lose a pound or two. (Cell Metabolism - 27 mins)

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Greasy palms

Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 agonists have injected fresh life into the fight against obesity. How they've become so prevalent so fast deserves a close look. A recent study showed that Novo Nordisk, maker of both drugs, spent $11 million in the last year wining and dining prescribers. This was almost half a million meals. 12k doctors had more than a dozen meals, 200 had more than 50, and one managed 193. Drug companies are required to track gifts of more than $10 and the company claims the vast majority, 94%, were under $25 in value. The research should speak for itself, the drugs can bring weight down by as much as 15%. Doesn't hurt to pair those findings with a nice glass of cabernet. (Fortune - 4 mins)

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Want to see better? Eat your colors

Wish you could hit a 90 mph fastball? Colorful food may be just what you need. A study out of The University of Georgia looked at the impact of blue haze on vision. Particulates in the air reflect light, specifically short wavelength blue light, into our eyes. This creates the appearance of a blue haze when looking at objects in the distance, critical in sports like baseball. Blue light filtering glasses have been shown to improve visibility of objects in the distance by absorbing blue light. The study focused on a couple pigments in food, lutein and zeaxanthin, which improve color contrast and help visual-motor performance. The pigments find their way into our eyes where they can boost contrast sensitivity by 30%. Modern diets greatly lack these pigments and according to the team eating a more carotenoid-rich diet (colorful foods) can greatly improve visual and cognitive performance. (Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews - 14 mins)

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Body Fat, not BMI, indicates obesity

Body Mass Index, or BMI, has been used to determine relative weight and obesity since 1972. Researchers in Israel believe we need an update. Studying 3,000 women and men, roughly one third were deemed to have 'normal weight' according to their BMI. Of this group, 38% of women and 27% of men were identified as obese according to their body fat percentage. Conversely, when testing the BMI overweight group, 30% of the men and 10% of the women showed normal body fat percentage. Obesity measures were correlated with high levels of fat, sugar, and cholesterol, all potential causes of serious health issues. Misclassifications allow at-risk individuals to fly under the radar and miss potentially life-saving treatment. The team used DXA scans to obtain body fat measures, x-rays that can differentiate between bone, lean mass, and fat mass. They're planning to push for these measurements throughout the country. (Frontiers in Nutrition - 14 mins)

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