A new study has found that eating ultra-processed foods can cause people to gain more body fat and harm their reproductive health — even when they eat the same number of calories as people on a natural diet. The research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, shows that the problem lies in how the food is made, not just how much is eaten.
What the study found
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen’s NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research studied 43 healthy men aged between 20 and 35. Each man spent three weeks on an ultra-processed diet and three weeks on a minimally processed diet, with a three-month break between them. Both diets had the same amount of calories, protein, fat and carbohydrates.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channe
Even though the men ate the same number of calories, those on the ultra-processed diet gained around one kilogram more fat compared to when they ate unprocessed foods. Several other health markers linked to heart health also worsened during the processed food phase.
Chemicals and hormone changes
The study also found that the men who ate more ultra-processed foods had higher levels of a harmful chemical called phthalate cx-MINP, which is often found in plastics and food packaging. This chemical is known to disrupt hormones.
Along with this, their levels of testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) dropped. Both of these hormones are very important for sperm production and male fertility.
Why calories are not the full story
This study showed that not all calories are equal. Even if two diets have the same calorie count, the body reacts differently depending on how the food is made.
Ultra-processed foods usually contain artificial ingredients, additives and chemicals from packaging that can affect metabolism, hormone balance and digestion. They may also change the gut bacteria, which can influence how the body stores fat.
Experts react
Lead author Jessica Preston, who carried out the research as part of her PhD, said:
“Our results prove that ultra-processed foods harm reproductive and metabolic health, even if they’re not eaten in excess. It’s the processed nature of these foods that makes them harmful.”
Senior researcher Professor Romain Barrès added:
“We were shocked by how many body functions were disrupted in healthy young men. The long-term effects are worrying and show why food guidelines must be updated.”
What people can do
Health experts recommend reducing the amount of ultra-processed food in daily meals. This includes packaged snacks, sugary cereals, instant noodles, processed meats and many ready-to-eat foods.
Instead, try to eat more natural and whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts, eggs, milk and fresh meat. Cooking at home also helps you control what goes into your food.
The takeaway
The study proves that eating ultra-processed foods can harm the body in several ways — from increasing fat and reducing male hormones to raising exposure to harmful chemicals.
Even if calorie counts look the same, natural and home-cooked foods are much safer for long-term health and fertility.
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