Five days of ultra-processed food: Study finds that's enough to alter insulin and reward functions in the brain

Researchers have found that a short-term, high-caloric diet impairs brain insulin responsiveness and increases liver fat in healthy weight men, with effects extending beyond the consumption period. They also found disruptions in the brain's normal reward learning response, suggesting just five days of overeating could prime the brain for long-term unhealthy eating patterns. Twenty-nine healthy male participants aged 19–27 years (BMI 19–25 kg/m²) were assigned to either a high-caloric diet (HCD) group (n=18) or a control group (n=11). Participants in the HCD group increased their daily caloric intake by an average of 1,200 kcal during the intervention. Liver fat content...