An important new study from the National Institutes of Health is the first randomized trial to show that ultra-processed foods actually drive people to overeat and gain weight compared to whole/less processed foods.

Those on an ultra-processed diet ate 508 more calories a week, gaining two pounds over the two-week study period, versus those on the unprocessed diet who lost two pounds a week.

Key aspect of the study: Each group ate the same amount of calories, sugar, fat, salt, carbs and fiber—and could eat as much as they wanted.

A mechanism seems to be involved: Researchers found that those on the ultra-processed diet had lower levels of an appetite-suppressing hormone and higher levels of the hunger hormone.

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This article first appeared at the Global Wellness Institute