Kwiminyaka yakutshanje, ukuzila ukutya kuye kwaba yintandokazi entsha yoluntu lwezenzululwazi, ukuzila ukutya kuye kwaboniswa ukunciphisa umzimba kunye nokwandisa ixesha lokuphila kwezilwanyana, enyanisweni, inani elikhulayo lezifundo libonisa ukuba ukuzila kunenzuzo ezininzi zempilo, ukuphucula impilo ye-metabolic, ukuthintela okanye ukulibazisa izifo eziza nokuguga, kunye nokucotha ukukhula kwamathumba.
Ukuzila ukutya okwethutyana, njengokuthintelwa kwekhalori, kubonakaliswe ukwandisa ubomi kunye nobomi obunempilo bezilwanyana eziyimodeli ezifana negwele, i-nematodes, iimpukane zeziqhamo, kunye neempuku.