Ultra-processed food intake → Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)
UPF raises intake in a ward trial. That is a food-environment effect, not a moral one, and it is not a career steroid.
Randomized trial · Moderate · N=20
Supported by an experiment or a tightly identified design. Still read the caveats.
Mechanism
Hall et al. randomized adults to ultra-processed vs unprocessed menus matched on presented calories. People ate more on UPF and gained weight. Energy surplus and adiposity then move HOMA-IR. The identified object is intake, not a direct hormone spell.
Caveats
N=20, inpatient, two weeks. Do not export this to 'UPF causes unemployment'. Income still sits on who can avoid UPF.
Effect
qualitative. Hall 2019: ad-lib UPF increased energy intake and weight vs unprocessed; metabolic cost follows the surplus.
Nodes
Named confounders
Cite this page
What Causes What. “Ultra-processed food intake → Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).” https://whatcauseswhat.org/edges/e-upf-insulin (atlas updated 2026-08-31).
Papers
- Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain: an inpatient randomized controlled trial of ad libitum food intake
K. D. Hall, A. Ayuketah, R. Brychta · 2019 · Cell Metabolism