Sociodemographic factors associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods in Colombia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the consumption of ultra-processed foods in the Colombian population across sociodemographic factors. METHODS: We used data from the 2005 National Survey of the Nutritional Status in Colombia. Food consumption was assessed using a 24-hour food recall in 38,643 individuals. The food items were classified according to the degree and extent of industrial processing using the NOVA classification. RESULTS: The mean calorie contribution of ultra-processed foods ranged from 0.2% in the lowest quintile of consumers to 41.1% in the highest quintile of consumers. The greatest increases were due to the consumption of industrialized breads, sweet and savory snacks, sugary drinks, processed meats, and confectionery. No major differences were found in the consumption of ultra-processed foods between men and women. We observed significant differences by age, socioeconomic status, area of residence, and geographic region. Children and adolescents showed a higher intake of ultra-processed foods, almost double that of participants over 50 years of age. Children consumed significantly more snacks, confectionery products, processed cereals, milk-based drinks and desserts. Participants over 50 years consumed fewer products from these sub-groups of ultra-processed foods but had the highest consumption of industrialized bread. Individuals from urban areas, those with high socioeconomic status, participants residing in the Bogotá region had 1.5 to 1.7 times higher calorie intake from ultra-processed foods compared with those from a lower socioeconomic status and those residing in rural regions. CONCLUSION: In Colombia, industrialized bread is the ultra-processed product that is most easily assimilated into the traditional diet, along with snacks and sugary drinks. Children and adolescents residing in urban areas and households with greater purchasing power have some of the highest intakes of ultra-processed foods in the country.

Ultra‐processed foods and the nutrition transition: Global, regional and national trends, food systems transformations and political economy drivers

“…Within countries, the above processes appear to play out in socially stratified and dynamic ways, whereby UPF consumption increases first among higher-income groups 19,20 and then shifts to lower socio-economic groups as countries grow richer. [16][17][18] This same pattern is observed with the 'social transition' in obesity prevalence.…”

“…These developments also affect nutrition equity 15 . In HICs, UPF consumption is inversely associated with socio‐economic position, 16–18 whereas the reverse is observed in middle‐income countries 19,20 . This indicates a ‘social transition’ in consumption, from higher to lower socio‐economic groups, as country income increases 21 .…”

“…15 In HICs, UPF consumption is inversely associated with socio-economic position, [16][17][18] whereas the reverse is observed in middle-income countries. 19,20 This indicates a 'social transition' in consumption, from higher to lower socio-economic groups, as country income increases. 21 Although the adverse health outcomes associated with some forms of basic food processing are well known (e.g., removing rice husks and resulting thiamin deficiency and beriberi in populations with staple white rice diets), 8 the adverse outcomes associated with more intensive forms of food processing, and in particular ultra-processing, have more recently come under scrutiny.…”

Potential Impact of the Nonessential Energy-Dense Foods Tax on the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children: A Modeling Study

“…In Mexico, school-aged children consume 34.3% of their total energy intake from ultraprocessed foods, while adolescents consume 35.5% ( 31 ). In contrast, in 2005, Colombian children aged 2–9 years consume 18.5% of total energy intake, while adolescents consume 18.6% ( 32 ); in 2010, Chilean children 2–19 years consumed 37.6% of their total energy intake from ultraprocessed foods ( 33 ). In contrast, in Canada and in the US, ultraprocessed foods represent 55 and 65% of the total energy intake, respectively ( 33 – 35 ).…”

Impact of nutrient warning labels on choice of ultra-processed food and drinks high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat in Colombia: A randomized controlled trial

“…There is emerging evidence that of the different front-of-package labels, nutrient warning labels, similar to the ones implemented in other Latin American countries, may be most effective at helping consumers to identify unhealthy foods and discourage them from selecting those food products [15]. A recent online randomized controlled trial in Colombia that assessed perceptions of and reactions to different nutrient warning label designs, concluded that the octagonal nutrient warning label performed best, and participants overwhelmingly selected it as the nutrient warning label that most discouraged them from wanting to consume an ultra-processed food product [20].…”