TV personality, fitness trainer, and nutritionist Jillian Michaels challenged popular misconceptions about weight loss during an interview on the “Fox and Friends” show on August 18. She emphasized that the “carbohydrate diet” itself is not the root cause of obesity.
Michaels stated that it’s not about excessive consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods, but rather the quality of the carbohydrates being consumed. She recommended opting for “complex carbohydrate foods,” such as whole grains, instead of overindulging in heavily processed foods like cakes and cookies.
A research report published by “Nature Medicine” on August 4 regarding the impact of “Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF) or Minimally Processed Foods (MPF) diets on weight and heart health” revealed a correlation between higher intake of ultra-processed foods and increased risks of obesity, heart metabolic disorders, and death.
The study, based on randomized sampling and crossover trials, showed that overweight adults who eliminated ultra-processed foods lost almost twice as much weight in two months compared to those who continued consuming such foods.
The report highlighted that globally, 3 billion people are either overweight or obese, increasing the risks of non-communicable diseases and premature death. One of the contributing factors to this phenomenon is believed to be significant changes in the food environment, particularly the increased accessibility and consumption of ultra-processed foods like microwave meals, sodas, potato chips, and packaged cookies.
Dr. Jeffrey Kraft, a bariatric surgeon at a medical center in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital that ultra-processed foods undergo multiple processes to make them “shelf-stable.” These foods are not natural but are factory-processed or chemically treated, giving them a longer shelf life. They do not trigger a normal satiety response, often containing unhealthy additives like high fructose corn syrup, emulsifiers, and hydrogenated oils.
Ashlee Carnahan, a registered dietitian at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, mentioned that natural foods are beneficial for weight loss due to their higher fiber and protein content, promoting prolonged satiety.
Carnahan encouraged prioritizing natural foods, suggesting consuming more “whole” foods such as apples, bananas, carrot sticks, nuts and seeds, natural peanut butter, and plain Greek yogurt.
In conclusion, it is vital to be mindful of the quality and source of the foods we consume, focusing on natural, minimally processed options to support overall health and weight management.