Minimally processed meals double weight loss
Image credit: nobiteuntilphoto via Unsplash
A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests that focusing on minimally processed meals can significantly boost weight loss, even when the alternative includes healthy ultraprocessed foods. Participants who ate mostly whole, lightly processed foods lost twice as much weight as those who consumed diets rich in processed items. Examples of minimally processed foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, eggs, and plain yogurt, while ultraprocessed options, even if labeled healthy, often include packaged snacks, sweetened breakfast cereals, and ready-to-eat meals.
Source
Dicken, S.J., Jassil, F.C., Brown, A. et al. Ultraprocessed or minimally processed diets following healthy dietary guidelines on weight and cardiometabolic health: a randomized, crossover trial. Nat Med 31, 3297–3308 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03842-0
Additional Reading
https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/04/health/weight-loss-ultraprocessed-food-wellness