Energy balance
Ultra-processed foods are significantly more energy-dense, less nutrient-dense, and cheaper per calorie than unprocessed foods, creating an economic incentive for overconsumption.
Ultra-processed foods are engineered to be cheap, energy-dense, and nutrient-poor. This combination makes them highly palatable and economically attractive, driving overconsumption. To improve diet quality, prioritize unprocessed foods which, while more expensive per calorie, offer better nutrient density and lower energy density, helping to regulate caloric intake.
Compared to unprocessed foods, ultra-processed foods had lower nutrient density (NRF9.3 per 100 kcal: 21.2 vs. 108.5), higher energy density (mean (SD): 2.2 vs. 1.10 in kcal/g), and lower per calorie cost (0.55 vs. 1.45 in $/100 kcal).
Why this rating
Large sample size (371 foods), longitudinal price data (12 years), and standardized metrics (NRF9.3), though observational in nature regarding consumption.
Source
Characterizing Ultra-Processed Foods by Energy Density, Nutrient Density, and Cost
Shilpi Gupta et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2019
DOI 10.3389/fnut.2019.00070
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