Consumption of ultra-processed foods and their impact on the diet of young adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the consumption of ultra-processed foods, its associated factors, and its influence on nutrient intake in young adults.METHODS In 2004-2005, the individuals belonging to the Pelotas birth cohort of 1982 were identified for a home interview. A total of 4,297 individuals were interviewed and 4,202 individuals were included in the study (follow-up rate of 77.4%). Diet was assessed using a questionnaire on dietary intake and the percentage of daily caloric intake attributed to ultra-processed foods as well as the intake of macro- and micronutrients were estimated. The association between cohort characteristics and the consumption of ultra-processed foods was assessed using linear regression. Analysis of variance and Pearson’s Chi-square test were used to evaluate the association between the quintiles of the consumption of ultra-processed food, nutrient intake and adequacy of nutrient intake, respectively.RESULTS The consumption of ultra-processed foods corresponded to 51.2% of the total caloric intake. The consumption of ultra-processed foods was higher among women, individuals with higher education, and individuals who were never poor and eutrophic. The increased consumption of ultra-processed foods was positively correlated with the consumption of fat, cholesterol, sodium, iron, calcium, and calories (p < 0.001) and was negatively correlated with the consumption of carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fiber (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS The high consumption of ultra-processed foods and its positive correlation with the intake of sodium, cholesterol, and fats underscores the need to perform interventions aimed at decreasing the intake of this food group.

Processed and ultra-processed food consumption among children aged 13 to 35 months and associated factors

“…Moreover, many of the existing studies were based on household food availability and consumption from household budget surveys within an older age group. It is worth noting that only two studies have been conducted to investigate the factors influencing consumption of processed and ultra-processed food products, one conducted with children 19 and the other with adults 6 .…”

“…Processed and ultra-processed food products are characterized by having high energy density, greater amount of free sugar, sodium and saturated fat, and lower amounts of essential fibers and nutrients compared to unprocessed or minimally processed foods 5,6,7 . When consumed in small amounts, these products are not harmful to health 4 .…”

Padrões alimentares de escolares: existem diferenças entre crianças e adolescentes?

“…The concept of a food and nutrition transition has been used to explain the increase in the prevalence of overweight and chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) 3 . Recent studies have shown a rapid increase of this transition in developing countries undergoing social, economic and technological changes, which result in higher acquisitive power and access to industrialized products of low nutritional value 2,4 . Inadequate nutrition is one of the major behavioral risk factors related to the current epidemic of NCD 3,4 , which are the leading cause of death in Brazil and the world 5 .…”

“…Recent studies have shown a rapid increase of this transition in developing countries undergoing social, economic and technological changes, which result in higher acquisitive power and access to industrialized products of low nutritional value 2,4 . Inadequate nutrition is one of the major behavioral risk factors related to the current epidemic of NCD 3,4 , which are the leading cause of death in Brazil and the world 5 . Inappropriate eating habits are characterized by high consumption of foods high in energy and sodium content, saturated fats, trans fats and refined carbohydrates, and by the increased consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods and beverages [3][4][5] .…”

“…Inadequate nutrition is one of the major behavioral risk factors related to the current epidemic of NCD 3,4 , which are the leading cause of death in Brazil and the world 5 . Inappropriate eating habits are characterized by high consumption of foods high in energy and sodium content, saturated fats, trans fats and refined carbohydrates, and by the increased consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods and beverages [3][4][5] . Childhood and adolescence are life stages essential for learning and establishing healthy eating habits, which tend to be maintained in adult life 6 .…”