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Ultra-processed foods now account for more than two-thirds of the calories consumed in the diet of young people in the United States, a surprising new study reveals – and researchers warn that convenience may take priority over health when it comes to health. is about food choices.
These types of processed foods made up 61% of total calorie intake in 1999, according to the analysis, and climbed to 67% in 2018. This is based on surveys of 33,795 children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years old.
The biggest jump – from 2.2% to 11.2% in calories – came from ready-to-eat or ready-to-reheat meals, including frozen pizzas, burgers and take-out. The second largest increase in calories comes from sweets and snacks: 10.6% to 12.9%.
During the same period, calories from unprocessed or minimally processed foods, which are generally healthier, fell from 28.8% to 23.5%. The rest was made up of moderately processed foods (like cheese and canned fruit) and flavor enhancers (including sugar and butter).
Of course, not all processed foods are equally problematic when it comes to negative health effects.
“Some whole grain breads and dairy products are ultra-processed, and they are healthier than other ultra-processed foods,” says cancer epidemiologist Fang Fang Zhang of Tufts University. “Processing can keep food fresher longer, allows fortification and fortification of foods, and improves consumer convenience.
“But many ultra-processed foods are less healthy, with more sugar and salt, and less fiber, than unprocessed and minimally processed foods, and the increase in their consumption by children and teens is concerning.”
There was good news: Calories from sugary drinks dropped from 10.8% to 5.3% of total calories consumed. According to Zhang, this is the direct result of a concerted campaign to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks – and now more work is needed in other categories.
Ultra-processed foods are often high in simple carbohydrates, such as sucrose and fructose, and generally don’t contain a lot of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals that help fuel our bodies.
The stake here is far from being satisfied to shame individual choices. Extensive research has established that excessive consumption of processed foods is linked to a range of health problems, including increased obesity, cardiovascular problems, and certain types of cancer.
All of these impacts can negatively affect a person’s well-being and, overall, place a greater burden on the healthcare system. It is therefore important to combat this increase in the consumption of processed foods in children, according to the researchers.
Health experts say marketing, pricing and availability in schools are driving adoption of ultra-processed foods in schools – at a time when eating habits can be set for life.
Parental education and family income did not have a significant impact on the calorie level provided by ultra-processed foods – which researchers say shows just how ubiquitous these types of foods have become. .
The team behind the new study wants to see more detailed monitoring and analysis done in the future.
“Food processing is an often overlooked dimension in nutrition research,” says Zhang. “We may need to consider that ultra-processing of certain foods may be associated with health risks, regardless of the poor nutritional profile of ultra-processed foods in general.”
The research was published in JAMA.
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