Obesity rates have increased over the last few decades. Dietary patterns are key lifestyle factors related to weight gain and obesity. With the fast-paced world we live in, our society has shifted from traditional diets consisting of homemade meals to more processed, packaged, and ready-prepared food items. Though pre-packaged meals are convenient in today’s “on the go” world, many of these food items can be classified as ultra-processed foods (UPF) which contains little to no whole foods and minimal nutrients, along with high amount of sodium, saturated fat, and many chemicals added to preserve the quality, texture, and life of the product. Great examples of UPFs are ice creams, sausages, deli meat, instant soup, carbonated drinks, sugary colored cereals, and chips. Studies have shown that frequent intake of UPFs in children can lead to an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic conditions including excessive weight gain, hypertension and high cholesterol levels.
In a systematic review, 17 scientific articles were analyzed to determine associations between the consumption of ultra-processed foods, weight status, and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents. Thirteen of the 17 articles indicated that the consumption of UPFs leads to a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and higher body fat percentage in children. Most of the studies analyzed reported that children and adolescents with higher consumption of UPFs had a higher risk of developing cardiometabolic comorbidities. These cardiometabolic comorbidities included dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and high blood pressure due to an increase in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Take home message: Frequent consumption of UPFs can increase the risk of obesity and cardiometabolic related outcomes in children and adolescents. Though many common foods are classified as UPFs, it is important to monitor children’s intake of these foods and opt for more nutrient-dense whole food sources. Understanding what UPFs are and where we find them is crucial to reduce the risk of poor health outcomes.
Reference: Petridi E, Karatzi K, Magriplis E, Charidemou E, Philippou E, Zampelas A. The impact of ultra-processed foods on obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities in children and adolescents: a systematic review [published online ahead of print, 2023 Aug 7]. Nutr Rev. 2023;nuad095. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuad095
