Book Review: Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken

A powerful exposé on the food that’s eating us

"If you only read one diet or nutrition book in your life, make it this one." – Bee Wilson

In a world of greenwashed labels, calorie-counting confusion and miracle-diet marketing, Ultra-Processed People by Dr Chris van Tulleken cuts through the noise like a scalpel. With wit, scientific rigour and a deep sense of social responsibility, this Sunday Times bestselling book offers one of the most important investigations into our modern food system to date.

At Noemi LIFE, we believe that knowledge is power—and Ultra-Processed People is a powerful read. It’s not just about food; it’s about our biology, our health, our rights and the forces that shape what ends up on our plates.

What Is Ultra-Processed Food (UPF)?

Ultra-Processed Foods aren’t just the obvious "junk" items. They're the supermarket staples many of us consume every day: flavoured yoghurts, protein bars, low-fat frozen meals, 'healthy' cereals, plant-based meat alternatives and even many baby foods.

UPFs are industrial formulations of cheap ingredients—starches, oils, sugars, protein isolates—combined with additives, emulsifiers, flavour enhancers and colourants. They’re designed not just for taste and convenience, but to override our natural satiety signals and keep us coming back for more.

Van Tulleken reveals that over 60% of the average UK diet is made up of UPF—a statistic that has profound consequences for our weight, hormones, mental health, gut microbiome and long-term disease risk.

The Experiment: What Happens When a Doctor Eats 80% UPF?

In a bold act of self-experimentation, Dr van Tulleken consumed a diet made up of 80% ultra-processed food for four weeks. Despite being young, fit and metabolically healthy at the start, the effects were dramatic:

• He gained weight rapidly.

• His hunger hormones spiralled out of control.

• He experienced disrupted sleep, brain fog and mood swings.

• His brain scans showed changes in reward circuits similar to those seen in addiction.

• 
  

These findings underscore a critical point: UPF doesn’t just affect the body. It rewires the brain.

Not a Matter of Willpower—A Matter of Design

Perhaps the most empowering message in this book is this: it’s not your fault. We’ve been conditioned to believe that dietary failure is a personal failing. But Ultra-Processed People argues convincingly that the system is set up for us to fail.

Food companies, often in close collaboration with Big Tobacco and Big Pharma, have spent decades engineering hyper-palatable products designed for profit, not nourishment. These foods are cheap to produce, profitable to sell and legally permitted to carry misleading claims.

Even the language of ‘choice’ is weaponised. As van Tulleken shows, what we call free choice is often manipulation in disguise—especially in food deserts, under financial stress, or in the busy chaos of family life.

What This Means for You—and for Us at Noemi LIFE

At Noemi LIFE, we champion longevity, balance and truth in health. Books like Ultra-Processed People are central to that mission—not because they scaremonger, but because they clarify what’s really happening in our food systems and our bodies.

We align with van Tulleken’s belief that real change doesn’t start in the gym or on the scale, but with informed, collective action: demanding transparency, rejecting misleading narratives and reconnecting with real, nutrient-dense food.

While we acknowledge that not everyone can avoid UPFs entirely, awareness is the first step. Education leads to empowerment—and empowerment leads to better choices.

Start Your Food Re-Education Today

We highly recommend adding Ultra-Processed People to your bookshelf. It’s a revelation, a manifesto, and a tool for liberation.

Read more and explore other trusted resources on our Further Reading page.

Let’s Talk

Have you read Ultra-Processed People? Are you trying to reduce UPFs in your life? Share your thoughts and strategies with us on Instagram or via email. We’d love to hear how you’re reclaiming your health—one informed bite at a time.

Read it, discuss it, share it—and next time you’re in the supermarket, take a closer look.