13/08/2025
🍔 Same Calories, Different Results — The Study That Shocked Scientists
Ever been halfway through a packet of biscuits and thought, “Where did they all go?”
It’s not just you. It’s not just willpower. And it’s not even necessarily the sugar or fat.
A gold-standard study from the U.S. National Institutes of Health proved something wild:
Researchers fed people two diets with the same calories, sugar, fat, protein, carbs, fibre, and salt.
One diet? Ultra-processed foods — packaged breads, sweetened yogurts, chicken nuggets, instant cereal.
The other? Minimally processed foods — fresh fruit, veg, whole grains, plain meat, nuts, seeds.
💥 Result: On the ultra-processed diet, people ate 500 extra calories a day without realising it.
After 2 weeks:
Ultra-processed → +2 lbs
Whole food → −2 lbs
Same nutrients. Different results.
Over years, those extra calories add up to weight gain, higher blood pressure, inflammation… and shorter lifespan.
Takeaway: Swap even one ultra-processed meal a day for a whole-food version.
Small steps today = more energy now and a longer, healthier life later.