Dr Chris van Tulleken, an infectious disease specialist and BBC presenter, has warned that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are now a leading cause of early death globally, surpassing tobacco. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, he highlighted that poor diet, particularly high in UPFs, has overtaken smoking as a primary contributor to premature mortality.
Dr van Tulleken explained that UPFs are linked not only to obesity but also to a range of health problems, including early death. He noted that the definition of UPFs was developed in Brazil around 2009-2010 to describe the Western industrial American diet, which has since spread to countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, causing a rapid rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The doctor emphasised that UPFs are as addictive as tobacco, alcohol, and gambling for some people, based on evidence. He also cautioned that nagging people to quit junk food is counterproductive, as it can push them towards harmful behaviours. Studies cited in the podcast confirm that high UPF consumption increases the risk of chronic diseases and mental health disorders, with no beneficial health outcomes reported.
A separate study found that higher UPF intake is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality risk. Dr van Tulleken's book, Ultra-Processed People, delves into these issues, urging a shift away from industrial processed foods for better public health.
