The SURPRISING Truth About Butter, Saturated Fat & Health (The Research SHOCKED Me!) | Fat Wars Part 2

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, we’re kicking off Part One of our ultra-processed foods deep dive to separate the science from wellness culture fearmongering. We unpack the research linking ultra-processed foods to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health conditions, what the evidence actually says about food additives and gut health, and whether processing itself is really the problem. Plus, we explore the NOVA classification system, why not all ultra-processed foods are created equal, and what clinical trials reveal about their impact on calorie intake and weight gain. And stay tuned for Part Two, where we’ll investigate why certain ultra-processed foods may make us eat more, from texture and eating speed to digestion and calorie absorption.

Here’s a run down of what we discussed in today’s episode:

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, I’m joined by author and eating disorder research advocate Paige Gordon, who lived with bulimia for 22 years before starting a low-dose GLP-1 medication that she says eliminated her drive to binge and purge. We explore whether biology, appetite signalling, and reward circuitry could play a larger role in some people’s eating disorders, and whether GLP-1 medications could eventually have a therapeutic role beyond weight loss. This is a nuanced conversation about food noise, bingeing, purging, recovery, and what Paige’s experience could mean for future eating disorder research.

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, we’re kicking off Fat Wars — Part One with a deep dive into the controversial world of seed oils. We unpack the claims around omega-6 fats, inflammation, oxidation, and toxins, why seed oils have become synonymous with ultra-processed foods, and what the evidence actually says about their impact on our health. We’ll also explore how seed oil fear became wrapped up in wellness culture, morality, and privilege. And make sure to join us next week for Fat Wars — Part Two, where butter, coconut oil, beef tallow, and saturated fats take the stand.

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, we’re diving into the latest wellness trend: fibermaxxing. We unpack the very real benefits of fiber, why variety matters more than simply chasing the highest number, and when a healthy goal can become another rigid diet culture rule. Plus, we’ll cover how to increase your fiber intake without wreaking havoc on your gut.