UPF’s Drive Obesity Like ‘Liquids Drive Liver Disease’
5 August 2024
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In the Media
In the Media
Tax and Fiscal Policy
19 November 2024
Christopher Snowdon writes for City AM
IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon has written for City AM in a debate about whether ‘ultra-processed foods’ (UPFs) are driving obesity.
Christopher wrote:
“Asking whether ultra-processed foods (UPFs) drive obesity is like asking whether liquids drive liver disease. Insofar as alcohol is a liquid, the answer is yes, but alcohol is not the only liquid and there are other causes of liver disease. The category of UPF is so broad as to be nearly useless. It zooms out when we need to be zooming in.
“UPF consumption is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for obesity.”
Read the full debate here.
Christopher wrote:
“Asking whether ultra-processed foods (UPFs) drive obesity is like asking whether liquids drive liver disease. Insofar as alcohol is a liquid, the answer is yes, but alcohol is not the only liquid and there are other causes of liver disease. The category of UPF is so broad as to be nearly useless. It zooms out when we need to be zooming in.
“UPF consumption is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for obesity.”
Read the full debate here.
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