Ultra-Processed Foods and Mental Health: Where do Eating Disorders Fit into the Puzzle?

The NOVA classification was developed by a team at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2009 led by Carlos Monteiro. NOVA classifies food into four categories:

1. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods (e.g., washed/trimmed corn on the cob)
2. Processed culinary ingredients (e.g., oils, sugars, salts, flavors)
3. Processed foods (a combination of NOVA-1 and NOVA-2 foods, e.g., canned corn)
4. Ultra-processed foods (containing little, if any, intact NOVA-1 foods, e.g., corn chips)

Recent research suggests that these foods can be harmful to mental health. So, what do we do when someone has a restrictive disorder? That's where nuance comes into play.

This presentation covers the need for nuance in the nutritional management of disordered eating. It is designed for professionals who already have an understanding of the various dynamics that are at play. Comments are always welcome :)