By Harshit
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 24 —
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) — items manufactured with additives, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and industrial ingredients you wouldn’t find in a home kitchen — are under renewed scientific scrutiny. A series of major 2025 studies is painting a clearer picture: high consumption of UPFs may significantly worsen chronic disease risks, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), lung cancer, and diabetes.
Although there is no universally accepted definition of “ultra-processed,” health agencies, including the UK Food Standards Agency, typically rely on the NOVA classification. This system labels foods as ultra-processed when they are produced with multiple industrial techniques and additives designed to improve texture, shelf life, and flavor.
The new evidence adds weight to a growing global concern: that many of the foods dominating grocery shelves and fast-food menus may be harming long-term health far more than previously understood.
UPFs May Worsen IBD Flares and Raise Risk of Crohn’s Disease
IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is driven by chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. Research published in Nutrients (September 2025) studied the diets of 90 people with IBD — and found a clear association between pro-inflammatory eating patterns and disease severity.
Ultra-processed foods were a major driver of symptom flares.
“This study reinforces what we’ve been seeing for a while,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta of the University of California. “Diet isn’t just background — it plays a real role in how the disease shows up.”
A separate systematic review in eClinical Medicine (August 2025) found that UPFs and inflammatory diets raise the risk of developing Crohn’s disease. Conversely, Mediterranean-style diets rich in whole foods and fiber appear to reduce that risk.
UPFs Linked to 41% Higher Lung Cancer Risk in Large 2025 Study
One of the most concerning findings comes from Thorax (July 2025), where researchers reported that people who consumed the highest levels of UPFs had a 41% higher relative risk of developing lung cancer than those consuming the least.
The increased risk applied to both major categories of lung cancer: non-small cell and small cell.
However, experts caution that the study lacked full adjustment for smoking history and occupational exposures — two leading contributors to lung cancer risk.
Still, researchers say the signal is strong enough to justify further, more rigorous investigation.
Even Small Amounts of Processed Meat Raise Diabetes and Heart Disease Risks
A Nature Medicine burden-of-proof analysis (June 2025), pooling results from more than 60 studies, examined how sugary drinks, processed meats, and trans fats affect metabolic and cardiovascular health.
Even limited intake showed measurable harm:
- Eating one hot dog per day raised the risk of type 2 diabetes by 11%.
- Regular consumption of UPFs increased the likelihood of ischemic heart disease.
A second study, published in Nutrition & Metabolism (2025), followed 85 young adults for four years and found that increasing UPF intake raised the risk of prediabetes — even among individuals aged just 17–22.
“Our findings show that even modest increases in ultra-processed food intake can disrupt glucose regulation,” said senior author Dr. Vaia Lida Chatzi of USC. “Diet is an urgent target for prevention strategies among young people.”
Given that more than half of calories consumed in the United States come from ultra-processed foods, researchers say this trend presents a significant population-level health challenge.
Why These Findings Matter
While scientists continue to debate precise definitions and mechanisms, the evidence is increasingly consistent: ultra-processed foods are not just empty calories — they may exacerbate inflammation, disrupt metabolic function, and elevate long-term disease risks.
Experts say the message is not to eliminate all packaged foods, but to shift toward whole, minimally processed ingredients whenever possible.