Consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to more than thirty health problems

Consistent evidence shows that increased consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with an increased risk of 32 adverse health effects, including cancer, serious heart and lung disease, mental disorders, and premature death. The findings, published by the medical journal The BMJ, show that diets high in ultra-processed foods can be harmful to many systems in the body, and highlight the need for urgent action to reduce exposure to these foods in the diet and better understand the mechanisms that link them to poor health.

Ultra-processed foods, including baked goods and packaged snacks, soft drinks, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat or processed foods, undergo numerous industrial processes and often contain colors, emulsifiers, flavors and other additives. These foods also tend to be high in sugar, fat, and salt, but low in vitamins and fiber.

Many previous studies and meta-analyses have linked highly processed foods to poor health, but no comprehensive review has yet provided a comprehensive assessment of the evidence in this area. To fill this gap, the researchers conducted a review (high-level evidence synthesis) of 45 separate pooled meta-analyses of 14 review articles that link ultra-processed foods to adverse health outcomes. All review articles were published within the last three years and attracted nearly 10 million contributors. None of them were funded by processed food companies.

Estimates of exposure to ultra-processed foods were obtained from a combination of food frequency questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recall, and dietary history and were measured as higher versus lower intake, additional servings per day, or 10% increase.

Researchers rated the evidence as strong, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak or no evidence. They also rated the quality of the evidence as high, moderate, low or very low. Overall, the results show that greater exposure to ultra-processed foods is consistently associated with an increased risk of 32 adverse health outcomes.

The mega-study found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with approximately a 50% higher risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48-53% higher risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% higher risk. type 2 diabetes.

The results also led us to note that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a 21% increased risk of death from any cause, and a 40-66% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. sleep and a 22% higher risk of depression.

Data remain limited on the association of exposure to ultra-processed foods with asthma, gastrointestinal health, some types of cancer, and cardiometabolic risk factors such as high blood fats and low levels of good cholesterol.