Eating a lot of ultra-processed foods, like packaged snacks and sugary drinks, is linked to a higher chance of becoming obese — about one-third more likely — based on data from hundreds of thousands of adults followed over time.

People who eat a lot of highly processed foods like chips, sugary snacks, and frozen meals tend to eat more calories and gain more weight than those who eat whole foods, even when they’re not trying to.

Eating a lot of ultra-processed foods, like packaged snacks and sugary drinks, might increase your chances of getting high blood pressure by about a third, according to several long-term studies in adults.

Eating a lot of ultra-processed foods, like packaged snacks and sugary drinks, might increase your chances of having unhealthy blood fats — specifically high triglycerides and low 'good' cholesterol — according to several long-term studies in adults.

Eating a lot of ultra-processed foods, like packaged snacks and sugary drinks, might increase your chances of getting type 2 diabetes by about 37% over time.

Eating lots of ultra-processed foods is linked to having several chronic diseases at once, feeling weaker, living with less quality of life, and having long-lasting body damage — especially in older people.