A simulation video has attempted to depict what would happen to twins if one ate a diet consisting of nothing but whole foods, and the other ate one consisting of nothing but junk food for a few weeks.
YouTube channel How You Thrive - which shares educational videos that aren't a substitute for real medical advice - has shown two identical twins 'exposing the calorie myth' with two different diets while on the same number of calories.
"They took two identical twins and locked them in two separate rooms. Each got the exact same number of calories every day, but there was one difference," they explain.
"One twin ate whole foods like fish, eggs, vegetables and a few low glycemic berries. The other one only junk, soda, chips and fast food.
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"A few weeks later, they both lost weight, but something was off. One looked pale and weak, almost lifeless. The other one bright, strong and full of life."
The simulation's claim that eating nothing but junk food can result in a major lack of energy isn't wrong, either.
While the Australian Dietary Guidelines say that a small amount of ultra-processed foods can be included in a healthy, balanced diet, a diet that is high in fats, salt and sugar can result in the body missing essential nutrients and increase the chance of obesity and other chronic long-term health conditions.
Uncoincidentally, British twins Ross and Hugo Turner took part in a similar 12-week dietary study run by the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London a few years ago.
Known for their athletic and adventurous pursuits, the pair consumed the same number of calories per meal and maintained identical exercise routines.
Throughout the study, researchers tracked body weight, body-fat percentage, cholesterol levels, blood-glucose control, gut-microbiome changes and daily physical and mental health - but what they found was truly staggering.
As suggested in the simulation video, but with slightly different diets, the vegan twin lost nine pounds during the first month and lost four pounds, as well as a drop in body fat from 13 percent to 12 percent.
Ross, however, on the meat-based diet, gained about 10 pounds, including several pounds of fat, with body fat rising from 13 percent to 15 percent.
His cholesterol remained unchanged, but his glucose control worsened and he experienced afternoon energy dips.
Hugo told Business Insider: "I just never felt good. I was eating at least six times a day and never felt full or satisfied, hence I was constantly hungry.
"But equally, I didn't have the crashes that I would probably associate with a higher-carb diet."
Elizabeth Ko, MD and Eve Glazier, MD, explained to UCLA Health: "It’s important to note that results of a 12-week experiment with just two subjects are hardly conclusive.
"However, the findings are in line with larger and more rigorous studies.
"Nutritional research continues to point to the benefits of a balanced diet made up of lean proteins, including fish and other seafood, healthful fats, fermented foods and a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
"It’s good for the heart, improved blood-sugar control, gut microbiome diversity and better health overall."
Topics: Food And Drink, Health, YouTube
Anish Vij