Maybe the “Z” in Gen Z could someday refer to “Zepbound.” This generation seems to have a penchant for knick-knacks and eye-catching items—after all, it turns out that around 62% of their calories are derived from ultra-processed foods (UPF).
A study from Virginia Tech raises some alarms about this trend, suggesting it’s a concerning path for Gen Z, particularly since they often eat more when junk food is on the menu.
“Even though this was a short-term study, the increase in caloric intake over time could lead to weight gain among these young adults,” noted the lead researcher, Brenda Davey, who teaches in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Exercise at Virginia Tech.
The study involved 27 young adults aged 18 to 25. They were put on one of two diets: one comprised primarily of UPF, making up 81% of their caloric intake, while the other was free of junk food.
Participants were given a caloric allotment designed to maintain their weight.
“We carefully crafted these meals to meet 22 specific parameters, including macronutrients, fiber, and added sugars, along with various vitamins and minerals,” Davey explained. “Previous research has not matched diets in this manner.”
After sticking to each diet for two weeks, the participants returned to their regular eating habits for four weeks before switching to the other meal plan. Once they completed a diet period, they had half an hour to enjoy a breakfast buffet filled with healthy options and UPF.
Each participant fasted prior to this buffet, which consisted of about 1,800 calories, allowing them to eat as much or as little as they desired.
Interestingly, the researchers observed that age influenced consumption patterns. Following a two-week junk food diet, participants aged 18 to 21 tended to consume more calories and overeat even when they weren’t hungry, while those aged 22 to 25 were less inclined to indulge.
The trend showed that younger participants indulged in more buffet snacks after their UPF diet. “This suggests age could be a risk factor for higher caloric intake after exposure to UPF,” Alex DiFeliciantonio, also a researcher at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, pointed out.
“This time in life often experiences more ‘bottom-up’ motivational influences. Still, more research is essential to grasp why younger individuals eat more after consuming high-UPF diets,” he added.
The results of this study were published in the journal Obesity. DiFeliciantonio observed that participants’ weights remained stable, and they didn’t need extra calories for energy, highlighting the treatment’s specific impact.
UPF has been associated with 32 adverse health effects, including an elevated risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, mental health issues, and even premature death.
This new research emerges as experts warn that one in three Americans aged 15 to 24 could be classified as obese by 2050 unless significant action is taken.
The team at Virginia Tech plans to delve further into junk food consumption patterns by involving more participants, focusing on younger individuals, extending the time on the diet, and increasing accessibility to UPF to better reflect real-life scenarios.
