Tackling obesity: can food processing be a solution rather than a problem?

Low energy dense diets (<1.6 kcal g(-1)) are recommended for weight management. Self-assembled, water-filled, edible nanotubes that self-organise into a more complex structure, possibly a 3D network of nanocellulose, may be used to lower the energy density of many processed foods to <1.6 kcal g(-1). Durethan (R) KU2-2601 packaging film enables the water content of processed foods to be increased without reducing their shelf life. Food and drinks can be sweetened by adding calorie-free Purefruit (TM) monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) extract to them. PUREFRUIT (TM) is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar and has exceptional stability. The energetic cost of the assimilation of processed and farmed foods, including sugar-sweetened liquids can be increased by increasing their protein and fibre content.