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Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of obesity: a prospective cohort study of UK Biobank

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Click here to read Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of obesity: a prospective cohort study of UK Biobank

Ultra-processed foods are defined by the NOVA food classification system as foods with flavours and colours, purposes for industrial processes and consists of small amounts or no whole foods. For example, breakfast cereals, flavoured dairy drinks, pre-packaged frozen food and confectionery. 

Ultra-processed products have replaced traditional food and less dietary patterns have freshly prepared meals. Evidence has shown that increased consumption of ultra-processed foods increases the risk of obesity globally and in the UK. This study adds to existing but limited prospective cohort studies.

This study recruited participants aged between 40-69 years old and collected their dietary intakes using repeated measures of adiposity including waist circumference, percentage of body fat and BMI where there was a follow up across 5 years.

The results demonstrated that the British diet is rich in ultra-processed food and there was a 79% increase in the risk of obesity. Additionally, waist circumference, BMI and body fat also increased with the consumption of ultra-processed food. These results are consistent with various studies in other middle and high-income countries and show that ultra-processed food also increases the risk of other diet-related chronic diseases as well as obesity. 

There are many potential mechanisms for the association between ultra-processed diets and obesity:

  • Changes in hormone levels such as the hunger hormone ghrelin and the appetite suppressant hormone PYY
  • Increase in the eating rate of ultra-processed food due to the sensory properties as it is easier to chew and swallow 
  • Changes of the gut microbiota that promotes obesity and other inflammatory diseases
  • Cosmetic additives such as monosodium glutamate which is a flavour enhancer have an association with obesity 
  • Ultra-processed foods are commonly wrapped in plastic such as bisphenol A which also has links with obesity. 

Ultra-processed foods are fuelling the obesity pandemic in the UK and they contribute to 57% of total calories intake, therefore, it is vital to consider policy actions to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed food to benefit public health. Other countries such as Chile, France, Mexico and Ecuador have implemented initiatives to promote healthy choices of food and improve population health. Food labelling, promotions, fiscal policies and restrictions on advertising should be adopted to make fresh foods more affordable than ultra-processed foods.

 

 

 

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