Ultraprocessed meals trigger different metabolism and brain activity, even when nutritionally identical

Food processing influences metabolism and brain activity

Virginia Tech researchers gave healthy adults two 300-calorie meals matched within 1% on carbs, fat, protein, water, and salt—one ultraprocessed, one minimally processed. Every metabolic metric differed: the ultraprocessed meal caused a much higher insulin response, more energy expenditure, and less carbohydrate burning. Brain scans also showed different reward-system responses to food pictures. The findings suggest processing itself, beyond nutrient composition, may help explain why ultraprocessed foods are linked to overconsumption and poor health.