Author | Chris van Tulleken |
---|---|
Language | English |
Publisher | Cornerstone Press |
Publication date | 27 April 2023 |
Pages | 384 |
ISBN | 978-1-5299-0005-7 |
OCLC | 1381127333 |
Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn't Food... and Why Can't We Stop? is a 2023 non-fiction book by Chris van Tulleken and published by Cornerstone Press in 2023 [1] and by Penguin Books in 2024. The book discusses ultra-processed food (UPF) and its effects on human health.
Van Tulleken combines anecdotes and personal stories with science through studies and van Tulleken's experience as a physician specialising in infection and immunity. [2] Topics include the origins of UPF, their economics and their impact. Van Tulleken asserts that UPF is a bigger cause of weight gain than sugar or a lack of exercise, and describes psychological and physiological effects of UPF on the human body. He draws from conversations with scientists and experts within the food industry, and calls attention to the failure to rigorously state conflicts of interest in scientific papers regarding food, nutrition and their industries.
Van Tulleken also describes his own experience of living for an extended period on a diet of 80% UPF, with before and after measurements.
Ultra-Processed People was shortlisted for 2023 Waterstones Book of the Year. [3]
Jacob E. Gersen reviewed the book for The New York Times . [4]
Jerold Mande reviewed the book for Harvard Public Health . [5]
"Junk food" is a term used to describe food that is high in calories from macronutrients such as sugar and fat, and often also high in sodium, making it hyperpalatable, and low in dietary fiber, protein, or micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. It is also known as "high in fat, salt and sugar food". The term junk food is a pejorative dating back to the 1950s.
A healthy diet is a diet that maintains or improves overall health. A healthy diet provides the body with essential nutrition: fluid, macronutrients such as protein, micronutrients such as vitamins, and adequate fibre and food energy.
Nutritional rating systems are used to communicate the nutritional value of food in a more-simplified manner, with a ranking, than nutrition facts labels. A system may be targeted at a specific audience. Rating systems have been developed by governments, non-profit organizations, private institutions, and companies. Common methods include point systems to rank foods based on general nutritional value or ratings for specific food attributes, such as cholesterol content. Graphics and symbols may be used to communicate the nutritional values to the target audience.
The British Nutrition Foundation is a British lobby group mainly funded by the food industry. It has been widely criticised for conflicts of interest, and for downplaying them. It presents itself to journalists, the public, and the government as a independent, impartial, disinterested, and scientifically-rigorous; its industry funders also promote this image.
The Waterstones Children's Book Prize is an annual award given to a work of children's literature published during the previous year. First awarded in 2005, the purpose of the prize is "to uncover hidden talent in children's writing" and is therefore open only to authors who have published no more than two or three books, depending on which category they are in. The prize is awarded by British book retailer Waterstones.
Beatrice Dorothy "Bee" Wilson is a British food writer and journalist. She writes the "Table Talk" column for The Wall Street Journal, and is also a campaigner for food education through the charity TastEd.
Forks Over Knives is a 2011 American documentary film which argues that avoiding animal products and Ultra-processed foods, and instead eating a whole-food, plant-based diet, may serve as a form of chronic illness intervention.
Mark Adam Hyman is an American physician and author. He is the founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center. Hyman was a regular contributor to the Katie Couric Show until the show's cancellation in 2013. He writes a blog called The Doctor’s Farmacy, which examines many topics related to human health and welfare, and also offers a podcast by the same name. He is the author of several books on nutrition and longevity, including Food Fix, Eat Fat, Get Thin, and Young Forever.
Alexander "Xand" van Hoogenhouck-Tulleken and Christoffer "Chris" van Hoogenhouck-Tulleken, known as "Dr. Chris" and "Dr. Xand' are British doctors, television presenters, and identical twin brothers. They are best known for presenting the children's series Operation Ouch!. Chris has become well known for his two-part television special for BBC One entitled The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs. Xand has also presented shows without his brother.
An ultra-processed food (UPF) is an industrially formulated edible substance derived from natural food or synthesized from other organic compounds. The resulting products are designed to be highly profitable, convenient, and hyperpalatable, often through food additives such as preservatives, colourings, and flavourings. UPFs have often undergone processes such as moulding/extruding, hydrogenation or frying.
Christoffer van Hoogenhouck-Tulleken, known as Dr. Chris, is a British physician, television presenter, and identical twin brother of Alexander "Xand" van Hoogenhouck-Tulleken. Van Tulleken became well known for his two-part television special for BBC One entitled The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs (2018). He is the author of Ultra-Processed People (2023). The Van Tulleken brothers are best known for presenting the children's series Operation Ouch! (2013).
Timothy David Spector is a British epidemiologist, medical doctor, and science writer, working on the relationship between nutrition, the gut microbiome, and health. He argues against low-fat diets and fad diets, and instead advocates for a Mediterranean-style diet that is heavily plant-based, high in fibre, limits ultra-processed foods, and includes a diversity of plants.
Geoffrey Cannon is an English author, journalist and former magazine editor, and scholar. From 1968 to 1972, he was the music critic for The Guardian, a role that made him the first dedicated rock critic at a British daily newspaper. Having worked as the arts editor for New Society magazine, he became editor of the BBC publication Radio Times from 1969 to 1979. During that time, he also wrote on music and popular culture for The Listener, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Sun-Times, Creem, Rock et Folk, Melody Maker and Time Out.
Onjali Qatara Raúf is a British author and the founder of the two NGOs: Making Herstory, a woman's rights organisation tackling the abuse and trafficking of women and girls in the UK; and O's Refugee Aid Team, which raises awareness and funds to support refugee frontline aid organisations.
Jacob E. Gersen is an American legal scholar. He is the Sidley Austin Professor of Law and affiliate professor in the Department of Government at Harvard University, where he has taught since 2011. Among Gersen's specialties are administrative law, food law, and regulation. He is the founder and director of the Harvard Food Law Lab.
Rob Biddulph is a British children's author and illustrator.
The Nova classification is a framework for grouping edible substances based on the extent and purpose of food processing applied to them. Researchers at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, proposed the system in 2009.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially manufactured foods that are designed to be convenient, palatable, and affordable. These foods often contain multiple ingredients and additives such as preservatives, sweeteners, colorings, and emulsifiers, which are not typically found in home kitchens. They tend to be low in fiber and high in calories, salt, added sugar and fat, which are all related to poor health outcomes when eaten excessively. Common examples include packaged snacks, soft drinks, ready meals, and processed meats.
Cecile Pin is a French author based in London. She is known for her debut novel Wandering Souls (2023).