The Hidden Dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods on Your Weight Loss Journey
June 25, 2025Whether you've had bariatric surgery, taken weight loss medication, or are simply working to improve your eating habits, understanding ultra-processed foods is crucial for long-term success. With limited stomach capacity after surgery, restricted appetite from medication, or a personal commitment to healthier choices, every food decision matters.
Not All Foods Are Created Equal
Not all foods are created equal. Scientists in Brazil created a system called NOVA that groups foods by how much they've been changed from their natural state. Ultra-processed foods are products made in factories with ingredients you wouldn't find in your kitchen. Think sodas, packaged snacks, frozen meals, instant noodles, and many breakfast cereals. They're designed to be convenient, long-lasting, and deliberately irresistible.
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to eat just one potato chip? Food companies carefully design ultra-processed foods with the perfect balance of salt, sugar, and fat that triggers pleasure centers in our brains. For post-surgical patients, this can waste precious stomach space. For those on weight loss medications like GLP-1 agonists, these foods can undermine the appetite-regulating effects of your treatment. And for anyone trying to lose weight naturally, these foods make it difficult to maintain a calorie deficit.
The Rise In Ultra-Processed Foods
The rise in ultra-processed foods parallels the worldwide increase in obesity. These foods harm health by packing many calories into small servings, causing blood sugar spikes and crashes, lacking important nutrients, and potentially triggering inflammation.
For better choices, shop the outer edges of grocery stores where fresh foods are kept. Read labels and choose products with recognizable ingredients. Prepare more meals at home and keep healthy, protein-rich snacks ready for when hunger strikes.
If you've had surgery or take medication, focus on nutrient-dense foods to make the most of your reduced appetite or smaller portions.
Small changes add up over time. Perhaps replace one processed snack with fresh options, or swap a packaged breakfast for something homemade. Those with surgical modifications or on medications will notice these changes have an even greater impact due to your body's altered relationship with food.
Regardless of which path you're on—post-surgical recovery, medication-assisted weight management, or natural weight loss—being aware of ultra-processed foods and limiting them in your diet is a powerful step in your health journey. Your commitment to health deserves the best fuel possible.
Sources:
- Dicken, S., et al. "Ultra-processed Food and Obesity: What Is the Evidence?" Current Nutrition Reports (2024). https://bit.ly/3XkinDz
- Sara Paola Mambrini, et al. "Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Incidence of Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults: A Systematic Review of Prospective Studies." Nutrients (2023). https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/11/2583
Stay Healthy, Stay Strong,
Dr. Leon Katz
This material is for educational purposes and should be discussed with a medical professional.
Dr. Leon Katz MD, FACS, FASMBS, is a bariatrician specializing in non-surgical, medically supervised weight loss. Dr. Katz currently practices at Dr. Leon Katz Medical Weight Loss Center.
 | ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Leon Katz MD, FACS, FASMBS, is a bariatrician specializing in non-surgical, medically supervised weight loss. He focuses on patients seeking alternatives to surgery and those needing care after bariatric procedures. Dr. Katz was recently the director of a major medical weight loss program. With extensive experience in establishing successful weight management programs, he now concentrates exclusively on non-surgical weight loss solutions. Dr. Katz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and Fellow of American College of Surgeons. Dr. Katz currently practices at Dr. Leon Katz Medical Weight Loss Center.Read more articles by Dr. Katz! |
