Does eating ultra-processed foods in one meal cause weight gain over a year in healthy young adults?

Ultra-Processed Foods & Weight Gain1 min readUpdated June 4, 2026

What the Evidence Shows

We analyzed one assertion on whether eating ultra-processed foods in a single meal leads to weight gain over a year in healthy young adults. The evidence we’ve reviewed so far does not support this idea — in fact, 47 studies or assertions refute it. This means that, based on what we’ve seen,...

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)
No supporting evidence found
Contradicting (0)
No contradicting evidence found
Primary Studies (1)

Meal composition during an ad libitum buffet meal and longitudinal predictions of weight and percent body fat change: The role of hyper-palatable, energy dense, and ultra-processed foods

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105592

Update History

Published
June 4, 2026·Last updated June 4, 2026
  • Invalid DateNew topic created from assertion

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Does eating ultra-processed foods in one meal cause weight gain over a year in healthy young adults? | Evidence-Based Answer | Fit Body Science