Beliefs About Food, Not Just Fat or Sugar, Drive Overeating, Study Finds

People tend to overeat not merely because foods are high in fat or sugar, but because they believe those foods are indulgent or highly processed, according to a large UK study involving over 3,000 adults and 400 everyday foods. Researchers found that perceptions of food—such as thinking it’s sweet, fatty, or ultra-processed—strongly predicted overeating, often more than actual nutrient content. Combining nutritional data with beliefs and sensory perceptions explained nearly 80% of overeating tendencies, while classifying foods as “ultra-processed” added little predictive value. The findings challenge the idea that all ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are harmful and suggest that labeling them as uniformly bad oversimplifies the issue. Instead, experts recommend improving food literacy, designing more satisfying foods, and addressing emotional eating triggers. The study concludes that our perceptions and relationships with food play a greater role in overeating than whether something comes from a packet.

14-10-2025