According to new research from Germany, those effects kick in faster and last longer than we assumed.
Published in Nature Metabolism, the study examined how diet influenced insulin response in 27 men aged 19 to 27, 18 of whom ate an additional 1,500 of unhealthy food daily while the remaining 11 continued eating normally. The researchers then measured brain insulin response, liver fat, body composition and reward-based learning to see how the diet changes impacted their brains.
As for what the unhealthy food habit in question is? The 18 participants ate the extra 1,500 calories from stereotypical junk food, meaning ultra-processed, high-calorie foods like cookies, chips, candy and fast food. And guess what? It altered their brain chemistry almost immediately. Here's what happened.
But once participants stopped overeating and went back to their normal diets—which they did for a week—the brain’s insulin response remained weak in areas linked to memory and decision-making.
Liver fat increased.
Those five days also led to an increase in liver fat without weight gain, suggesting that the liver wasn't processing sugar and fat as efficiently. This can lead to higher blood sugar levels, increased risk of insulin resistance and eventually conditions like Type 2 diabetes.
Cravings became stronger.
Over time, this can lead to overeating, weight gain and a slower metabolism, especially since insulin response is simultaneously impaired.
Why Does This Mean For Me?
This study proves that even a few days of eating ultra-processed, high-calorie foods can have long-term health effects, potentially increasing liver fat, disrupting brain function, slowing metabolism and increasing fat storage, to name a few. It can also make it harder for your body to regulate hunger and cravings, and these effects could last longer than the time you spent eating the food itself.
Thus, if you're trying to maintain both a healthy brain and metabolism, this research suggests limiting junk food is a smart first step—not just for weight control, but for long-term brain health, too.
Related: Eating in This Order Could Have Similar Benefits to Ozempic
Sources
"A short-term, high-caloric diet has prolonged effects on brain insulin action in men." Nature Metabolism. Read More Details
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