Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity
Abstract Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) increases overall caloric intake and is associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, and brain pathology. There is scant evidence as to why UPF consumption leads to increased caloric intake and whether the negative health consequences are due...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | npj Metabolic Health and Disease |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00056-3 |
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| author | Filip Morys Arsene Kanyamibwa Daniel Fängström Max Tweedale Alexandre Pastor-Bernier Houman Azizi Lang Liu Annette Horstmann Alain Dagher |
| author_facet | Filip Morys Arsene Kanyamibwa Daniel Fängström Max Tweedale Alexandre Pastor-Bernier Houman Azizi Lang Liu Annette Horstmann Alain Dagher |
| author_sort | Filip Morys |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) increases overall caloric intake and is associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, and brain pathology. There is scant evidence as to why UPF consumption leads to increased caloric intake and whether the negative health consequences are due to adiposity or characteristics of UPFs. Using the UK Biobank sample, we probed the associations between UPF consumption, adiposity, metabolism, and brain structure. Our analysis reveals that high UPF intake is linked to adverse adiposity and metabolic profiles, alongside cellularity changes in feeding-related subcortical brain areas. These are partially mediated by dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation and body mass index, suggesting that UPFs exert effects on the brain beyond just contributing to obesity. This dysregulation of the network of subcortical feeding-related brain structures may create a self-reinforcing cycle of increased UPF consumption. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-642c46fcafd44cfc8d6f0ea0cd241274 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2948-2828 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Metabolic Health and Disease |
| spelling | doaj-art-642c46fcafd44cfc8d6f0ea0cd2412742025-08-20T03:06:48ZengNature Portfolionpj Metabolic Health and Disease2948-28282025-04-01311910.1038/s44324-025-00056-3Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposityFilip Morys0Arsene Kanyamibwa1Daniel Fängström2Max Tweedale3Alexandre Pastor-Bernier4Houman Azizi5Lang Liu6Annette Horstmann7Alain Dagher8Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of HelsinkiDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of HelsinkiMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill UniversityMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill UniversityMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill UniversityMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of HelsinkiMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill UniversityAbstract Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) increases overall caloric intake and is associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, and brain pathology. There is scant evidence as to why UPF consumption leads to increased caloric intake and whether the negative health consequences are due to adiposity or characteristics of UPFs. Using the UK Biobank sample, we probed the associations between UPF consumption, adiposity, metabolism, and brain structure. Our analysis reveals that high UPF intake is linked to adverse adiposity and metabolic profiles, alongside cellularity changes in feeding-related subcortical brain areas. These are partially mediated by dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation and body mass index, suggesting that UPFs exert effects on the brain beyond just contributing to obesity. This dysregulation of the network of subcortical feeding-related brain structures may create a self-reinforcing cycle of increased UPF consumption.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00056-3 |
| spellingShingle | Filip Morys Arsene Kanyamibwa Daniel Fängström Max Tweedale Alexandre Pastor-Bernier Houman Azizi Lang Liu Annette Horstmann Alain Dagher Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity npj Metabolic Health and Disease |
| title | Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity |
| title_full | Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity |
| title_fullStr | Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity |
| title_short | Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity |
| title_sort | ultra processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding related brain regions independent of and via adiposity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00056-3 |
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